Lighting infrastructure and revenue model

ABSTRACT

In one example, a method of a computing device calculates savings information associated with a lighting infrastructure application framework. The method comprises receiving, at the computing device, real time energy usage data from a plurality lighting node platform devices within the lighting infrastructure application framework; calculating energy savings information associated with management and a use of the plurality of lighting node platform devices; automatically calculating carbon credit information based on the calculated energy savings information associated with the management and the use of the plurality of lighting node platform devices; and transmitting a request for carbon credits based on the calculated carbon credit information.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/250,794, filed Apr. 11, 2014 entitled “LIGHTINGINFRASTRUCTURE AND REVENUE MODEL” which is a divisional application ofand claims benefit of the copending parent application U.S.Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 13/915,856, entitled“Lighting Infrastructure and Revenue Model” and filed on Jun. 12, 2013which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.61/658,874, entitled “Street Lamp Revenue Model” and filed Jun. 12,2012, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/812,219, entitled“Lighting Infrastructure and Revenue Model” filed Apr. 15, 2013, theentire contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Industrialized countries throughout the world have extensive networks ofindoor and outdoor lighting. Streets, highways, parking lots, factories,office buildings, and all types of facilities often have extensiveindoor and outdoor lighting. Substantially all of this lighting, untilrecently, uses incandescent technology. Incandescent lighting, however,is inefficient in conversion of electrical power to light output. Asubstantial fraction of the electrical power used for incandescentlighting is dissipated as heat. This not only wastes energy but alsooften causes failures in the light bulbs themselves, as well as in thelighting apparatus.

As a result of these disadvantages, and the operating and maintenancecost efficiencies of light emitting diodes or other solid-state lightingtechnologies, many owners of large numbers of incandescent lightfixtures are converting them to use solid-state lighting. Solid-statelighting not only provides for longer life bulbs, thereby reducing laborcosts for replacement, but the resulting fixtures also operate at lowtemperatures for longer periods, further reducing the need to maintainthe fixtures. Current lighting services and devices do not providevarious municipalities and private owners with lighting infrastructuresthat enable operating their facilities with reduced maintenance costsand reduced energy costs, as well as improvements that may utilizedynamic data collection to improve lighting systems.

SUMMARY

The various embodiments include systems and methods for providing alighting infrastructure application framework or network thatcommunicates with and otherwise manages street lighting and/or otherlighting infrastructures having integrated application platform,network, and sensor capabilities.

In an embodiment, a computing device may perform a method to implement arevenue model related to a lighting infrastructure, comprisingreceiving, at the computing device, a request from a first device toaccess data from a lighting infrastructure application framework,wherein the data from the lighting infrastructure application frameworkincludes data from at least one lighting node platform device of aplurality of lighting node platform devices, transmitting a response tothe request from the first device based at least in part on therequested data from the lighting infrastructure application framework,and calculating at least one of a fee and a revenue related to thetransmitted response. In another embodiment, the method may furtherinclude registering devices based on received registration information,wherein the registration information is transmitted by one of a deviceassociated with an application provider and the first device. In anembodiment, the registration information may include at least one ofauthentication credentials, access-control credentials, licensinginformation, advertisement authorization information, paymentinformation, and a selection of at least one of a plurality of datatypes. In an embodiment, the plurality of data types may includeoccupancy sensor data, energy usage sensor data, light sensor data(e.g., daylight sensor data, ambient light sensor data, light levelsensor data, etc.), environmental sensor data, (e.g., temperature sensordata, wind sensor data, humidity sensor data, weather sensor data,pollution sensor data, particulate sensor data, barometric pressuresensor data, etc.), security sensor data (e.g., motion detection sensordata, glass break sensor data, video/audio data, etc.), audio/microphonesensor data, visual data (e.g., video cameras, etc.), gas detectionsensor data (e.g., carbon dioxide sensor data, carbon monoxide sensordata, methane sensor data, natural gas sensor data, oxygen sensor data,propane sensor data, butane sensor data, ammonia sensor data, hydrogensulfide sensor data, etc.), intrusion detector data, motion sensor data,vibration sensor data, people detection sensor data, vehicle detectionsensor data, safety sensor data (e.g., radiation sensor data, othertoxic gases sensor data, etc.), biohazard sensor data, scanning sensordata (e.g., active, passive, and hybrid RFID), location sensor data(e.g., GPS), biometric sensor data (e.g., Human Presence), mechanicalsensor data (e.g., Force/Strain, accelerometers, etc.), signal detectors(e.g., radio frequency detector, WiFi detector, Bluetooth detector,etc.), industry specific sensor data (e.g., traffic, parking, medical,law enforcement, earthquake sensor data, gunshot sensor data, etc.),correlated data, and aggregated data. In an embodiment, the method mayfurther include verifying an authorization for the first device toaccess the requested data from the lighting infrastructure applicationframework by determining whether the first device is authorized based onthe received registration information, and transmitting a request forregistration information from the first device when the first device isdetermined to not be authorized, and wherein transmitting a response tothe request from the first device based at least in part on therequested data from the lighting infrastructure application frameworkcomprises transmitting the response to the request from the first devicewhen the first device is determined to be authorized. In an embodiment,the lighting infrastructure application framework may include at leastone service platform computing device, at least one gateway platformdevice, and the plurality of lighting node platform devices, and the atleast one gateway platform device may be configured to exchangecommunications with the at least one service platform computing device,and the plurality of lighting node platform devices may be configured toexchange communications with the at least one gateway platform devicesuch that data associated with the plurality of lighting node platformdevices is transmitted to the at least one service platform computingdevice via the at least one gateway platform device. In an embodiment,calculating at least one of a fee and a revenue related to thetransmitted response may include determining usage characteristics forthe first device based on the request, and calculating the fee based onthe determined usage characteristics. In an embodiment, the usagecharacteristics may include at least one of a type of data, a frequencyof data access, an amount of data, a data source location, a datademand, and a request time. In an embodiment, calculating at least oneof a fee and a revenue related to the transmitted response may includedetermining lighting node platform device usage by the lightinginfrastructure application framework related to the transmittedresponse, and calculating the revenue for a lighting infrastructureowner related to the determined lighting node platform device usage,wherein the lighting infrastructure owner is associated with thelighting infrastructure that includes the lighting node platform device.In an embodiment, the at least one lighting node platform device mayinclude a power supply for receiving electrical power, a light socketcoupled to the power supply, a node application controller comprising aprocessor coupled to the power supply, a network interface coupled tothe processor, wherein the network interface is communicatively coupledto a service platform computer via a gateway or direct connection, and asensor coupled to the processor for detecting a condition at the atleast one lighting node platform device, and in response providinginformation about the condition to the processor. In an embodiment, thepower supply for electrical power includes a power input terminal forreceiving AC electrical power, and wherein first lighting node platformdevice may further include an AC/DC converter coupled to the power inputterminal, an LED driver coupled to the AC/DC converter, and a powerinterface coupled to the LED driver to provide power from the AC/DCconverter to a first sensor. In an embodiment, the lightinginfrastructure application framework may include a plurality of sensorssuch that each of the plurality of lighting node platform devicescomprises at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors, and eachsensor of the plurality of sensors provides sensor data to a serviceplatform computer. In an embodiment, the plurality of sensors comprisesan energy use sensor, a light sensor, a motion detector, an occupancysensor, an energy usage sensor, a light sensor, an environmental sensor,a security sensor, an audio sensor, a camera, a gas detection sensor, anintrusion detector, a vibration sensor, a people detection sensor, aglass break sensor, a vehicle detection sensor, a safety sensor, abiohazard sensor, a scanning sensor, a motion sensor, a location sensor,a biometric sensor, a mechanical sensor, a signal detector, and anindustry specific sensor. In an embodiment, the method may includereceiving, at the computing device, the request transmitted by anapplication executing on the first device to access data from a lightinginfrastructure application framework, wherein the first device is atleast one of a third-party device and a service platform computer.

In another embodiment, a computing device may be configured to perform amethod to calculate fees and revenues related to a lightinginfrastructure application framework, the method including receiving, atthe computing device, data that includes at least one of sensor dataand/or controller information related to at least one of a sensor and/ora controller, wherein the sensor and the controller are within a localarea network coupled to the computing device and are associated with atleast one lighting node platform device, calculating informationdescribing the fees and the revenues associated with the received data,wherein the revenue is for a lighting infrastructure owner associatedwith the computing device, and transmitting the calculated informationto another device associated with the lighting infrastructureapplication framework.

In another embodiment, a computing device may be configured to perform amethod to calculate savings information associated with a lightinginfrastructure application framework, the method including receiving, atthe computing device, real time energy usage data from a plurality oflighting node platform devices within the lighting infrastructureapplication framework, calculating energy savings information associatedwith management and a use of the plurality of lighting node platformdevices, automatically calculating carbon credit information based onthe calculated energy savings information associated with the managementand the use of the plurality of lighting node platform devices, andtransmitting a request for carbon credits based on the calculated carboncredit information. In an embodiment, the method may also includetrading carbon credits received in response to the request foradditional revenue for at least one of the lighting infrastructureapplication framework operator and a lighting infrastructure ownerassociated with the plurality of lighting node platform devices.

In another embodiment, a computing device may be configured to perform amethod to distribute software related to a lighting infrastructureapplication framework, the method including receiving, at the computingdevice, the software, wherein the software is to be executed by at leastone of a plurality of lighting node platform devices within the lightinginfrastructure application framework, wherein the software is at leastone of a script, an application, an app, and a routine, storing thereceived software in relation to a provider of the software, wherein theprovider is one of an application provider and a lighting infrastructureowner, and transmitting the software to destination devices in responseto receiving a request. In an embodiment, the method may also includereceiving, at the computing device, an update to the software, whereinthe update is at least one of a binary update, a firmware update, andconfiguration data, and transmitting the update in response to receivingthe update. In an embodiment, the request may be from a one of athird-party device that is not affiliated with the lightinginfrastructure owner, a gateway platform device, and one of theplurality of lighting node platform devices. In an embodiment, thedestination devices may be at least one of the plurality of lightingnode platform devices. In an embodiment, the method may also includecalculating at least one of a fee and a revenue in response totransmitting the software, and transmitting a message indicating the atleast one of the fees and the revenue, wherein the message istransmitted to one of the application provider and the lightinginfrastructure owner. In another embodiment, the at least one of the feeand the revenue is based on data transmitted in association with the atleast one of the plurality of lighting node platform devices executingthe software.

In another embodiment, a computing device may be configured to perform amethod to process data received in relation to a lighting infrastructureapplication framework, the method including receiving, at the computingdevice, data reported by a plurality of lighting node platform deviceswithin the lighting infrastructure application framework, processing thereceived data by at least one of analyzing or aggregating the receiveddata, detecting an occurrence of at least one of a plurality ofpredefined events based on the processing of the received data,identifying a trend within the received data based on the processing ofthe received data, and predicting a future occurrence of at least one ofthe plurality of predefined events based on the processing of the data.In an embodiment, the method may also include transmitting messagesreporting the analysis of the received data. In an embodiment, themethod may also include transmitting commands based on at least one ofthe received data and the analysis of the received data, wherein thecommands include at least one of software, scripts, and configurationdata. In an embodiment, the commands include operating instructions forsensors associated with the plurality of lighting node platform devices.

In another embodiment, a computing device may be configured to perform amethod to provide a data market associated with a lightinginfrastructure applications framework, and the method may includereceiving, at the computing device, data related to a lightinginfrastructure that includes at least one lighting node platform device,calculating a value and bidding conditions of the received data based onvalue factors, wherein the value factors include at least a data typeand collection area, receiving a bid message for the received data,determining whether bidding conditions have been met based on thecalculated bidding conditions, and transmitting the data to a recipientdevice associated with the received bid message when the biddingconditions are determined to have been met.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitutepart of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of theinvention, and together with the general description given above and thedetailed description given below, serve to explain the features of theinvention.

FIG. 1A is a component block diagram illustrating an embodimentarchitecture of a networked lighting system (or Lighting InfrastructureApplication Framework).

FIG. 1B is a component block diagram illustrating an embodimentarchitecture of a networked lighting system at a higher level withemphasis on networking.

FIG. 2 is a component block diagram illustrating an embodimentarchitecture of a lighting infrastructure application framework system.

FIG. 3 is a component block diagram illustrating an embodiment lightingnode platform.

FIG. 4 is a component block diagram illustrating an embodiment gatewayplatform.

FIG. 5A is a component block diagram illustrating an embodiment serviceplatform.

FIG. 5B is a component block diagram illustrating embodiment componentswithin a lighting infrastructure application framework.

FIG. 6 is a process flow diagram illustrating an embodiment method forimplementing a general revenue model within a lighting infrastructureapplication framework.

FIGS. 7A-7B are process flow diagrams illustrating embodiment methodsfor a computing device calculating fees/revenue in conjunction with alighting infrastructure application framework.

FIG. 8 is a process flow diagram illustrating an embodiment method for agateway platform device to calculate fees and/or revenues associatedwith usage within a lighting infrastructure application framework.

FIG. 9A is a process flow diagram illustrating an embodiment method fora computing device to calculate energy savings and carbon creditinformation associated with lighting node platforms.

FIG. 9B is a process flow diagram illustrating an embodiment method fora computing device to provide a data market that utilizes bids forreceiving LIAF data.

FIGS. 10A-B are process flow diagrams illustrating embodiment methodsfor a computing device to transmit software/firmware/scripts for usewithin a lighting infrastructure application framework.

FIG. 11 is a process flow diagram illustrating an embodiment method fora computing device to process data received from lighting node platformswithin a lighting infrastructure application framework.

FIGS. 12A, 12B, 13 are diagrams illustrating embodiment applications ofprocessing data associated with lighting node platforms within alighting infrastructure application framework.

FIG. 14 is a component block diagram of a computing system suitable foruse in various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The various embodiments will be described in detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numberswill be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.References made to particular examples and implementations are forillustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of theinvention or the claims.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example,instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as“exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other implementations.

The terms “computing system” or “computing device” are used herein torefer to any one or all of servers, mobile computing devices, desktopcomputers, server blades, laptop computers, personal computers, andsimilar electronic devices equipped with at least a processor and anetwork transceiver configured to establish a wide area network (WAN) orlocal area network (LAN) connection (e.g., an LTE, 3G or 4G wirelesswide area network transceiver, a wired connection to the Internet, WiFi,Bluetooth, etc.).

The various embodiments provide methods for systems and methods forutilizing sensors in combination with lighting devices to enablefunctionality beyond lighting spaces. In various framework embodimentsdescribed herein, a lighting infrastructure may be utilized as aplatform for business and consumer applications. The key components ofthe framework may include hardware, software, and network resources in asecure distributed framework that enables data collection, analysis,action invocation and communication with applications and/or varioususers.

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing access to sensorinformation integrated within a networked application framework fordeployment in street or other lighting systems. Such systems and methodsmay include various models for providing access to sensor informationfrom such a network as part of various revenue models for monetizingnetworked devices integrated with a lighting system. The architecture ofsuch a system allows deployment of a networked system within thelighting infrastructure already in place, or at the time of its initialinstallation. While the system may be deployed in outdoor streetlighting, it also may be deployed indoors, for example, in a factory oroffice building. Also in certain embodiments, when the system isdeployed outdoors, it may be installed at a time when street lamp bulbsare changed from incandescent lighting to more efficient lighting, suchas lighting using light emitting diodes (LEDs). The cost of replacingsuch incandescent bulbs is high, primarily due to the cost of labor andthe necessity to use special equipment to reach each bulb in each streetlamp. By installing the network described here at that time, theincremental cost vis-a-vis merely replacing the existing incandescentbulb with an LED bulb is minimal.

Because the system enables numerous different uses, the deployed sensorsystem is referred to as a Lighting Infrastructure Application Framework(LIAF), also known as a Light Sensory Network (LSN) when the systemincludes sensors. The system uses lighting infrastructure as a platformfor government, municipality, business and consumer applications. Themain components of the framework are the hardware, software and networkresources that enable data collection, analysis, action invocation andcommunication with applications and users. Although the system isdescribed here in the context of street lighting, it will be evidentfrom the following description that the system has applicability toother environments, for example, in an indoor office or factoryenvironment.

As a network of individual devices accessible through such a LIAF growslarger and larger, the costs and complexity of managing the system andthe data available through such a system grows. Therefore, systems andmethods for managing access to such a system may be desirable to provideimproved resource usage and access to information. Further, systemmanagement may be required to manage and improve the number of sitesavailable for placement of sensors and other devices within a LIAF. Forexample, a user may provide a fee to applications that operate usinginformation from a LIAF. The applications may provide a portion of thatrevenue in exchange for access to information from the LIAF. Differentlevels of fees may be associated with types and quantities ofinformation. An operator of the LIAF may in turn use a portion of theincome from applications to pay a property owner for use of informationfrom devices operating on property and within a lighting system on theproperty owner's property. Such properties may be referred to as“lighting infrastructures,” and such property owners may also bereferred to as “lighting infrastructure owners.”

In an embodiment, the system provides for a network of lighting systemsusing existing street lights. Each street light becomes (or is equippedwith) a lighting node platform in the network, and each lighting nodeplatform includes a power supply for receiving electrical power, a lightsocket or light source coupled to the power supply, a processor coupledto the power supply, a network interface coupled between the processorand the network of lighting node platforms, and one or more sensorscoupled to the processor for detecting a condition at the lighting nodeplatform. In combination this allows each lighting node platform toconvey information to other lighting node platforms and to centrallocations about the conditions at the lighting node platforms. Eachlight may be associated with a different lighting infrastructure ownerand with different sets of devices, and fees provided to the lightinginfrastructure owner may vary based on the location of the deviceswithin the lighting system and on the type, quantity, and quality ofinformation from each lighting node platform.

A particular benefit of such a system is that networking hardware andsensors that may make use of the networking hardware may be powered fromthe same source that powers lights in the lighting system. Input powerpreviously used for incandescent bulbs may be used at the terminationpoint with a driver that powers both an LED light source and one or moresensors or electronic devices. A Wi-Fi access point, various sensors(e.g., a security camera, a weather sensor, a motion detector, etc.), arange finder, and any combination of these in conjunction with othersuch devices may thus be powered at the light. A modular driver that isadapted to power such sensors and an LED light source may thus beincluded in various embodiments to enable flexibility in a lightingsystem to power any number of devices that may be used by the network.

In an embodiment, a system may use a gateway coupled to the networkinterface of each lighting node platform for providing information fromthe sensors at the lighting node platforms to a service platform wheredata is distributed to third-party applications and in some casesapplication software is executed. This software performs desiredoperations related to the conditions detected by the sensors at thelighting node platforms. In addition the gateway may receive informationfrom the service platform and provide that information to the networkinterface at the lighting node platform. That information may be used tofacilitate maintenance of the light, control of the light, or numerousother applications, many of which have nothing to do with lighting, andsome of which are described herein. The sensors at the lighting nodeplatforms may be used with controllers (e.g., hardware and/or softwarecontrollers) to control the light source, as well as to provide controlsignals to apparatus coupled to the lighting node platform (e.g., lockor unlock a parking area, turn-on an exhaust fan in an indoor parkinggarage, etc.). Multiple gateways may be used to couple multiple regionsof the lighting system together for purposes of a single application.Typically each lighting node platform will include an AC/DC converter toconvert the street lamp AC power to DC for use by the processor, sensor,etc. The gateways may communicate with each other through cellular,Wi-Fi or other means to the service platforms. The sensors are typicallydevices, which detect, for example, audio, video, motion, light, weatheror other conditions. The costs associated with providing such upgradesand/or networked services to a lighting infrastructure owner may beoffset by fees received from information provided as part of the LIAF toapplications that use information from the lighting infrastructureowner's lighting node platforms.

In another embodiment, a system may provide a network of sensors forcollecting information by using existing lighting systems havingfixtures with light sources. The method includes replacing the lightsource at each fixture with a module that includes a power inputterminal connected to the power supply of the existing light fixture, areplacement light source, a processor, a network interface coupled tothe processor, and a sensor coupled to the processor. The sensor detectsa condition at the lighting node platform, and provides informationabout that condition to the processor. The network interface of eachmodule at each fixture is coupled together using a communicationsnetwork. Using the communication network, information is collected fromthe sensors, and that information is provided over the network to acomputing device.

In another embodiment, each module at each of the fixtures includes acontroller and apparatus coupled to the controller, and the controlleris used to cause actions to be performed by the apparatus. As mentionedabove, signals may be transmitted from the computing device over thecommunication network to the modules and thereby to the controllers tocause an action to be performed by the apparatus of the lighting system.In various embodiments, such controllers may be software and/orhardware.

In each of these additional embodiments, various methods and systems maybe used to determine costs and revenues associated with sensors andother devices available at particular lighting node platforms in a LIAF,based in part on whether processing and energy consumed in providingsensor and apparatus access to applications is performed in part locallyat the lighting node platform or remotely at a server computer operatedby a provider of the LIAF. Thus, in alternative systems, differentrevenue models may be used to improve access and integration to deviceswithin a LIAF.

Embodiments described herein relate to networks of devices in a LightingInfrastructure Application Framework or network (referred to herein as“LIAF”). In particular, revenue applications and operation of accesscontrols and revenue streams associated with such a network aredescribed. The LIAF as described here is based on lighting nodeplatform, gateway and service platforms with various alternativeembodiments for providing access to information from the LIAF. Incertain embodiments, a lighting node platform architecture consists of alighting node platform which is deployed at various locations in thelighting infrastructure (e.g., at individual street light fixtures). Atleast some of the lighting node platforms include sensors that collectand report data to other lighting node platforms, and in some cases tohigher levels in the architecture. Sensor data or controller access forsensors and controllers within the LIAF may then be provided to variousapplications. The applications may register with the LIAF to enable theapplication to access data from the LIAF. Operators of such anapplication may, for example, pay a fee for access to some or all of theinformation available from the LIAF. In other embodiments, individualapplication users may pay for access to LIAF information, or individualusers may agree to enable advertising in exchange for receiving datafrom the LIAF.

Thus, as described herein system users and application providers maysupport and fund the operation of a LIAF as well as the expensesassociated with leasing lighting node platform locations or other suchcosts associated with a LIAF. FIG. 1A illustrates a portion of theoverall architecture of an embodiment lighting infrastructureapplication framework system 100 (or a LIAF system 100). The system 100may also be referred to as a Light Sensory Network (LSN). A light pole102, such as a street light, may include a lighting node platform 104(or lighting node platform device) in addition to the light sourceitself. The lighting node platform 104 may include sensors 116 ofvarious types selected by the owner of the light pole 102, dependingupon the particular application desired. Certain embodiments may forexample, include an ambient light or daylight sensor 117. Alternativeembodiments may include an occupancy sensor 118 that may identify when aspace is filled by an object, such as a car in a particular parkingspace. In various embodiments, sensors 116 may include any combinationof sensors, such as occupancy sensors 118, energy usage sensors, lightsensors (e.g., daylight sensor 117, ambient light sensors, light levelsensors, etc.), environmental sensors, (e.g., temperature sensor, windsensor, humidity sensor, weather sensor, pollution sensor, particulatesensor, barometric pressure sensor, etc.), security sensors (e.g.,motion detection sensor, glass break sensor, video/audio sensors, etc.),audio/microphone sensors, cameras (e.g., video cameras, etc.), gasdetection sensors (e.g., carbon dioxide sensor, carbon monoxide sensor,methane sensor, natural gas sensor, oxygen sensor, propane sensor,butane sensor, ammonia sensor, hydrogen sulfide sensor, etc.), intrusiondetectors, motion sensors, vibration sensors, people detection sensors,vehicle detection sensors, safety sensors (e.g., radiation sensor, othertoxic gases sensors, etc.), biohazard sensors, scanning sensors (e.g.,active, passive, and hybrid RFID), location sensors (e.g., GPS),biometric sensors (e.g., Human Presence), mechanical sensors (e.g.,Force/Strain, accelerometers, etc.), signal detectors (e.g., radiofrequency detector, WiFi detector, Bluetooth detector, etc.), andindustry specific sensors (e.g., traffic, parking, medical, lawenforcement, earthquake sensors, gunshot sensors, etc.). The lightingnode platform 104 may also include controllers 120 for performingfunctions in response to the sensors 116, or performing functions inresponse to control signals received from other sources. Three potentialcontrollers which may be used in various embodiments are an irrigationcontrol 121 for controlling an irrigation system, a gate control 122 foropening and closing a nearby gate, and a light controller 123 forcontrolling a light in a light pole 102. The light controller 123 may beused to control the lighting source in the light pole 102, for example,turning it off or on at different times of the day, dimming it, causingit to flash, sensing the condition of the light source itself todetermine whether maintenance is required, or providing otherfunctionality. In various embodiments, the controllers 120 may behardware and/or software. For example, a controller for controlling anexhaust fan may be software.

Other examples of control functions which these or similar hardwareand/or software controllers 120 enable may include: management of powerdistribution, measurement and monitoring of power, and demand/responsemanagement. In various embodiments, the software controllers may run onthe node platform 104, a node application controller as described below,or a specialized controller platform. The controllers 120 may activateand deactivate sensors, and may measure and monitor the sensor outputs.In addition the controllers 120 may provide management for communicationfunctions such as gateway operation for software downloading andsecurity administration, and for video and audio processing, for exampledetection or monitoring of events. In an embodiment, the lighting nodeplatform 104 and controllers 120 may utilize a standard controlleraction invocation interface 156 that may invoke controller actions basedon detected sensor data.

In an embodiment, the architecture of the networked lighting system mayenable “plug-and-play” deployment of sensors 116 at the lighting nodeplatforms 104. The Lighting Infrastructure Applications Framework (LIAF)may provide hardware and software to enable implementation of the sensorplug-and-play architecture. When new sensors are deployed, software andhardware may manage the sensor, but the LIAF may provide support forgeneric functions associated with the sensors; thereby eliminating theneed for custom hardware and software support for sensors. A sensorrequires power, typically battery or wired low voltage DC, and incertain embodiments the sensor may generate analog or digital signals asoutput.

The LIAF may allow deployment of sensors 116 at lighting node platforms104 without additional hardware and software components. LIAF mayprovide DC Power 150 to sensors 116 as required. The LIAF may alsomonitor the analog or digital interface 152 associated with the sensors116, as well as all other activities at the lighting node platform 104.

Lighting node platforms 104 at individual light poles 102 (e.g., streetlamps, lighting fixtures, etc.) may be coupled together to a gatewayplatform 106. The gateway platform 106 communicates with lighting nodeplatforms 104 using technology as described further below, but caninclude a wireless connection or a wired connection. In an embodiment,the gateway platform 106 and lighting node platform 104 may communicatevia Ethernet, either wired or wireless. In an embodiment, the gatewayplatform 106 and lighting node platform 104 may utilize interfaces 154,such as a standard administrative interface (e.g., an interfaceactivating, deactivating, and initializing sensors) and/or a standardoperational interface (e.g., an interface for obtaining and convertinganalog or digital sensor data to an event type). The gateway platform106 may, in certain embodiments, communicate with the network 112 usingwide area network communications technology 108 such as broadbandnetwork, cellular network, Wi-Fi, general packet radio service (GPRS),or other means (e.g., cell towers, WiFi routers, access points, Ethernetswitches, IP routers, etc.). Of course, the gateway platform 106 may notbe a stand-alone implementation. In an embodiment, the gateway platform106 may be deployed at a lighting node platform 104 or alternatively maybe optional. For example, in an embodiment, the lighting node platform104 may perform the operations/functions of the gateway platform 106.The gateway platform 106 may provide wide area networking (WAN)functionality and provide complex data processing functionality, inaddition to the functions provided by the lighting node platform 104.

The gateway platform 106 may access a service platform 110 enabling thelighting node platform 104 to provide data to, or receive instructionsfrom, various applications 114. Service platform 110 may be implementedin the cloud to enable various applications or services. The serviceplatform 110 may be associated with a variety of applications 114 forthe system 100. In an embodiment, the service platform 110 may utilizevarious application interfaces, such as an interface for applications toaccess data generated by sensors and/or events defined forsensors/sensor data. These applications 114 may be provided by owners,partners, consumers, or other entities to enable desired functionalityof the lighting infrastructure or other business/commercial needs. Onepotential application, for example, may provide reports on currentweather conditions at a lighting node platform 104. The applications 114may be usually developed by others and licensed (or alternativelyprovided at no charge) to the lighting infrastructure owner, but theycan also be provided by the lighting node platform owner or otherwisemade available for use on various lighting node platforms 104. In anembodiment, the applications 114 and/or data associated with theapplications 114 may be exchanged via various administrative andoperational interfaces 158 over the network 112. In various embodiments,the applications 114 may be included within or accessed by user devices130 (e.g., mobile devices, laptops, third-party developer servers,etc.). In other embodiments, the applications 114 may also be includedwithin the service platform 112 (e.g., hosted/executed/stored by serviceplatform computers, etc.).

Typical lighting related applications may include lighting control,lighting maintenance, and energy management. For example, a lightingcontrol application may allow users to control light output at alighting node platform 104 on a light pole 102. There also may bepartner applications—applications that have access to privileged orconfidential data and to which the lighting infrastructure owners grantprivileges. Such applications may provide security management, parkingmanagement, traffic reporting, environment reporting, asset management,logistics management, and retail data management to name a few. Theremay also be consumer applications that may enable consumers to haveaccess to generic data, with access to this data granted, for example,by the lighting infrastructure owner. In an embodiment, the consumerapplications may be configured to utilize anonymized data that ismanaged and/or authorized for distribution by a service platform 110 orother computing device. Another type of application may includeowner-provided applications, which may be applications developed andused by lighting infrastructure owners (e.g., for controlling trafficflow in a region or along a municipal street). Of course there may alsobe applications that use customized data from the framework.

In various embodiments, the primary entities involved in the systemillustrated in FIG. 1A may include a lighting infrastructure owner(e.g., a parking garage owner), an application framework provider (e.g.,an operator of the LIAF), an application or application service owner(e.g., a third-party service or developer), and end users (e.g.,citizens with cars, etc.). Typical lighting infrastructure owners mayinclude a municipality, a building owner, tenants, a facilitymaintenance company, and/or other entities. For example, lightinginfrastructure owners may be those entities that maintain a lightinginfrastructure (e.g., a parking garage), bill tenants for the use of thelighting infrastructure, or alternatively pay fees to other parties foruse of a lighting infrastructure (e.g., tenants pay owners/third-partiesto maintain a parking garage, etc.).

FIG. 1B illustrates the architecture of a LIAF system 160 at a higherlevel with emphasis on networking. Groups of light poles 102 withlighting node platforms 104 may communicate with each other and togateway platforms 106. The gateway platforms 106 may communicate, inturn, through communication media or communications technology 108(e.g., global system for mobile communications or “GSM”, GPRS, WiFi, andother WAN connections) to the network 112. In a typical implementationas illustrated, there may be multiple sets of lighting node platforms104, multiple gateway platforms 106, and multiple communication media108, all commonly coupled together to the service platforms 110available through the network 112. In this manner, multiple applicationsmay provide a wide degree of functionality to individual lighting nodeplatforms 104 through the gateway platforms 106 in the LIAF system 160.

FIG. 1B also illustrates the networking architecture for an array oflighting node platforms. In the left hand section of the drawing, anarray of lighting node platforms 161 is circled for illustration. Solidlines among the lighting node platforms 104 within the array 161represent the data plane that connects selected lighting node platforms104 to enable high local bandwidth traffic shown as local area network(LAN) communication media 162. These connections (or LAN network), forexample, may enable the exchange of local video or logged data amongthese lighting node platforms (e.g., data may be exchanged between thelighting node platforms 104 of the same array 161). The LANcommunication media 162 may enable a control plane that connects all ofthe lighting node platforms 104 to each other and may provide transportfor local and remote traffic, exchanging information about events,usage, node status, and enabling control commands from the gateway, andresponses to the gateway platform 106 to be implemented. In anembodiment, the LAN communication media 162 may utilize WiFi, 4G/LTE orother data communications technology. For example, lighting nodeplatforms 104 may include DASH7 sensors and/or readers to publishperformance, sensor, usage, and/or application data. Other embodimentsmay include WiFi, ZigBee and other 802.15-based protocols.

FIG. 2 illustrates components within an embodiment LIAF system 200. Inan embodiment, various components may be associated with a lightinginfrastructure 201 (e.g., a parking garage, etc.). A lumen layercomponent 202 may include a light fixture/heat-sink, a socket forplugging in or screwing in a lighting device (e.g., an OLED or LED, LEDboard, incandescent light, fluorescent light, etc.), a power interface(e.g., a DC interface), a thermal feedback module, a dimming interfaceto a controller, and various related drivers/software/instructions. Inan embodiment, the lumen layer component 202 may include a lumenmanagement layer (not shown) for processing data exchanged with otherdevices within the system 200. A sensor layer component 204 may includevarious sensors, such as occupancy sensors, energy usage sensors, motiondetectors, light sensors (e.g., daylight sensors, ambient light sensors,light level sensors, etc.), environmental sensors, (e.g., temperaturesensor, wind sensor, humidity sensor, weather sensor, pollution sensor,particulate sensor, barometric pressure sensor, etc.), security sensors(e.g., motion detection sensor, glass break sensor, video/audio sensors,etc.), audio/microphone sensors, cameras (e.g., video cameras, etc.),gas detection sensors (e.g., carbon dioxide sensor, carbon monoxidesensor, methane sensor, natural gas sensor, oxygen sensor, propanesensor, butane sensor, ammonia sensor, hydrogen sulfide sensor, etc.),intrusion detectors, vibration sensors, people detection sensors,vehicle detection sensors, safety sensors (e.g., radiation sensor, othertoxic gases sensors, etc.), biohazard sensors, scanning sensors (e.g.,active, passive, and hybrid RFID), location sensors (e.g., GPS),biometric sensors (e.g., Human Presence), mechanical sensors (e.g.,Force/Strain, accelerometers, etc.), signal detectors (e.g., radiofrequency detector, WiFi detector, Bluetooth detector, etc.), andindustry specific sensors (e.g., traffic, parking, medical, lawenforcement, earthquake sensors, gunshot sensors, etc.). In anembodiment, the sensor layer component 204 may include a sensormanagement layer (not shown) for processing data exchanged with otherdevices within the system 200. A power layer component 206 may includean AC/DC adaptor (such as an adaptor that indicates power usage,voltage, current power, etc.) and a step-down transformer. In anembodiment, the power layer component 206 may include a power managementlayer (not shown) for processing data exchanged with other deviceswithin the system 200. An imaging layer component 208 may be includedthat is configured to store, analyze, and otherwise process variousimage types, such as static, motion, and infrared imagery), variousimage qualities (e.g., low, medium, high definition, etc.), as well asperform operations for implementing and/or adjusting image recognitionand image communication frequency. Additional layers such as an audiolayer (not shown) may be included to process data from audio sensorsassociated with lighting node platform devices.

In an embodiment, a core data management platform component 210 mayinclude hardware elements, such as analog/digital inputs and outputs, DCpower distribution and measurement units, microcontrollers/processors,buses, ports, pins, and interfaces (e.g., for LAN, other platformcomponents, etc.). The core data management platform component 210 mayalso include software elements, such as instructions, commands, scripts,or routines for handling sensor data inputs/outputs, DC powermeasurement on various channels, low bandwidth communications (e.g.,radio frequency signals) between lighting node platforms and gatewayplatform devices (or site controllers as described below), and LEDdimming based on sensor data and/or application commands. In anembodiment, an enhanced data management platform component 212 mayinclude hardware elements, such as a micro processor (e.g., high-endOpen Multimedia Applications Platform or “OMAP”), buses, ports, pins,and interfaces (e.g., for high bandwidth LAN, high bandwidthWAN/WIFI/etc., other platform components, etc.). The enhanced datamanagement platform component 212 may also include software elements forhandling video processing/interface and high bandwidth communications(e.g., communications between lighting node platforms, gateway platformdevices, etc.).

In various embodiments, the components 202-212 may be within orperformed by a lighting node platform, gateway platform, site controllercomputing device, or any combination of devices associated with alighting infrastructure 201.

The system 200 may further include an applications infrastructure cloud230. Such a component may include various computing devices, routines,modules, logic, and networking elements to enable service platforms asdescribed below with reference to service platforms. For example, theapplications infrastructure cloud may be configured to perform datacollection related to lighting, power, sensors, and video, as well asperform administrative operations regarding lighting node platforms.

FIG. 3 illustrates a diagram 300 of an embodiment lighting node platform104 (or lighting node platform device). The lighting node platform 104may include a power supply 302 (or power terminal block), typicallyimplemented as an AC to DC converter. In an embodiment where lightingnode platforms are deployed at outdoor street lamps, AC electrical powermay be the primary power supply to such street lamps. Because most ofthe sensors and controller structures may use semiconductor-basedcomponents, the power supply 302 may convert the available AC power toan appropriate DC power level for driving the various lighting nodeplatform components. In an embodiment, the power supply 302 may includeand/or be coupled to a power input terminal 303. In an embodiment, apole wire 304 may be connected to the power supply 302, such as byconnecting to the power input terminal 303.

As also shown in FIG. 3, the array of sensors 116 and controllers 120may be connected to the power supply 302. In various embodiments, thecontrollers 120 may be software and/or hardware. A node applicationcontroller 306 (or processor) running an application may coordinate theoperations of the sensors 116 and controllers 120 to implement thedesired local functionality. The node application controller 306 mayalso provide communication via an appropriate media, such as a localnetwork interface 314, to other lighting node platforms. The applicationexecuting via the node application controller 306 may also drive an LEDdriver 308 (or LED driver circuit), coupled to an appropriate lightsocket 312 (i.e., a socket for a light source, bulb, etc.), operatingunder control of one of the controllers 120. Wired and wirelessconnections between the various components may be provided as requiredin various alternative embodiments. In various embodiments, the nodeapplication controller 306 may be coupled to or include a memory 307(e.g., RAM).

The lighting infrastructure of the lighting node platform 104 shownillustrates one embodiment of a lighting node platform 104 which is alighting node platform including a luminaire light socket 312 (i.e., asocket for a luminaire light source), a light emitting diode (LED)driver 308, a node application controller 306, a local network interface314, and a power supply 302. In certain embodiments, the nodeapplication controller 306 may be coupled to a controller(s) 120 and/orsensor(s) 116. The sensors 116 associated with the lighting nodeplatforms 104 can be local to the lighting node platform, or they can beremote. Controllers 120, other than the LED controller, can be hardwareand/or software based and may be remote and use wireless communications.The node application controller 306 may manage all the functions withinthe lighting node platform 104. It also may implement theadministrative, data collection and action instructions associated withapplications. These instructions may be delivered as application scriptsto the node application controller 306. In addition, the software on thenode application controller 306 may provide activation, administration,security (authentication and access control) and communicationfunctions.

The local network interface 314 may enable the lighting node platform104 to communicate with a gateway platform device that is part of alocal area network including one or more lighting node platforms 104 anda gateway platform that enables the lighting node platforms tocommunicate with the rest of the LIAF network.

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram 400 of a gateway platform 106 (or gatewayplatform device). As suggested by the figure, and mentioned above, in anembodiment, the gateway platform 106 may be located at a lighting nodeplatform or separately from the lighting node platforms. In other words,the gateway platform 106 may be configured to include or otherwiseutilize at least the resources of a lighting node platform. Accordingly,the gateway platform 106 may incorporate a power supply 302, nodeapplication controller 306 with a memory 307, local network interface314 for communications via a local area network (or LAN), LED driver 308and light socket 312, as well as sensors 116 and controllers 120. Thegateway platform 106 may additionally include a wide area network (WAN)controller 404 that may enable communication with a service platform viaa WAN communication media or WAN network interface. For example, thegateway platform may exchange messages with the network 112 via the WANcontroller 404. In an embodiment, a pole wire 304 may be connected to apower input terminal 303 coupled to or contained within the power supply302.

The gateway platform 106 hardware and software components may enablehigh bandwidth data processing using a data processor 402, such asprocessing when receiving/transmitting high video rates. Thesecomponents may also enable WAN communications via the WAN controller404, in addition to the functions supported by lighting node platform asdescribed above. The gateway platform 106 can be thought of as alighting node platform, but with additional functions. The highbandwidth data processing via the data processor 402 may support videoand audio data processing functions that detect, record and reportevents (e.g., glass breaking, crowd formation, gun shots, etc.). The WANfunctionality support via the WAN controller 404 may be based on GSM,GPRS, Wi-Fi, LAN to Internet, or other wide area networkingtechnologies. In an embodiment, the gateway platform 106 may alsoinclude a user interface 410, such as displays and/or input devices thatmay provide user access to data from lighting node platforms and/orservice platforms associated with the gateway platform 106. In variousembodiments, when the gateway platform 106 is configured with the userinterface 410 it may be referred to as a “site controller,” such asshown in FIG. 12A and FIG. 13. In other words, a “site controller”device may be a type of gateway platform 106 device.

FIG. 5A illustrates a diagram 500 of an embodiment service platform 110(or service platform device). The service platform 110 may include aprocessor 508 and memory 510 for implementing various modules and foranalyzing data via modules such as infrastructure cost management module516 (referred to in FIG. 5A as “ICMM”), application revenue managementmodule 514 (referred to in FIG. 5A as “ARMM”), and carbon credit module513 (referred to in FIG. 5A as “CCM”). The service platform 110 mayutilize a network interface 505, such as a WAN network interface. Theservice platform 110 may support an application gateway component 504and a custom node application builder component 506. The applicationgateway component 504 may be configured to manage interfaces todifferent types of third-party applications implemented to use thesensor data from the lighting node platforms. The custom nodeapplication builder component 506 may enable development of custom nodeapplication scripts. These scripts may specify to the node applicationcontrollers, such as the node application controller 306 of FIG. 3, toimplement data collection instructions and operations to be performed atthe lighting node platform level. The scripts may specify to theapplication gateway component 504 how the results associated with thescript are provided to an application, such as a custom application 502.In an embodiment, the application gateway component 504 may beconfigured to exchange data with gateway platforms (and thus lightingnode platforms) via the network 112, such as using WAN communicationmedia.

The service platform 110 may also be configured to exchange and processdata related to various applications. In particular, owner applications518, system applications 520 (or system operator applications), partnerapplications 522, and consumer applications 524 may utilize theapplication gateway component 504 via application gateway APIs. Varioustypes of applications may be developed in a way that is common to manyuses of the sensor data. System applications 520 may be developed by aLIAF system operator and may include an application for lightingmanagement of various lighting node platforms that provides lightingstatus and controls functionality for the light source at a certainlighting node platform. As another example, system applications 520 mayinclude another application provided by a LIAF system operator forlighting maintenance that enables users to maintain their lightingnetwork, for example, by monitoring the status of the light(s) at eachlighting node platform. In yet another example, system applications 520may include another application for energy management that enables usersto monitor lighting infrastructure energy usage and therefore to bettercontrol that use. For example the application may provide an interfaceto auto-demand/response applications. Partner applications 522 may bedeveloped by a lighting infrastructure owner (e.g., a light pole owner)and LIAF operator-approved application and application service companiesthat have established markets for various desired functions, such asthose listed below. These applications may utilize the applicationgateway API Functions of partner applications 522 may include securitymanagement, parking management, traffic reporting, environmentreporting, asset management, and logistics management. Consumerapplications 524 may utilize an API for consumers as provided by theLIAF system operator. This API may provide access to publicly available,anonymous and owner approved data. Examples of consumer applications 524may include third-party applications that use anonymized data (orgeneric data) to provide information to users, such as weather (orenvironmental) information for various locations, traffic information ata location, and information for finding parking spaces in an area (e.g.,available spaces, prices for parking, etc.). In an embodiment, consumerapplications 524 may utilize a zip code key provided by users to providerelevant data from lighting infrastructures. Owner applications 518 maybe developed and used by lighting infrastructure owners to meet theirvarious specific needs (e.g., management of facilities, etc.). Examplesof owner applications 518 may include applications that illustratesecurity conditions in a parking lot, parking administrationapplications, and revenue applications (e.g., monetization programs,etc.).

In various embodiments, the infrastructure cost management module 516and the application revenue management module 514 may function toanalyze LIAF component usage and automatically determine usage basedfees and revenue. Embodiment methods of automatic fee and revenuecalculation operations are described below.

FIG. 5B illustrates embodiment components within a lightinginfrastructure application framework. In other words, FIG. 5B showstypical components within a layered architecture 550 that includeslighting node platforms, gateway platforms, service platforms, andapplications (e.g., third-party applications). In particular, the lightengine component 552, thermal management component 554, power modulecomponent 556, constant current driver component 558, sensors component560 and controller component 562 may be typical components of a lightingnode platform (or lighting node platform device) or a gateway platform(or gateway platform device) as described above. The lighting nodeplatform may also include network layer components, such as a controlLAN component 564 and a data LAN component 566. The gateway platform mayinclude network layer components, such as a control WAN component 568and a data WAN component 570. In an embodiment, the control LANcomponent 564, the data LAN component 566, and the control WAN component568 may include functionality for time syncing and event/control/admintraffic processing, and the data WAN component 570 may includefunctionality for processing video frames.

The service platform may include various components associated withmanaging data services and applications, such as a data collectioncomponent 572 for processing various collected data (e.g., sensor data,lighting, power, video, audio data, etc.), an application gatewaycomponent 574 for providing data access to various applications (e.g.,customer applications, partner applications, system applications,consumer applications, etc.), a security component 576 forauthentication, data and communications access control, a billingcomponent 578 for processing bills to parties based on access, usage,data views, and near real-time/periodic/historic frequencies, aninfrastructure management component 580. In an embodiment, theinfrastructure management component 580 may include functionality forhandling graphical user interfaces (GUI), gateway administration,network administration, user administration, themanagement/syncing/control of lighting node platforms (e.g., processingfailures, software, and operations/status), and administration oflighting node platforms (e.g., setup, configuration, etc.).

In various embodiments, the components or analogous logic, circuitry, oroperations may be included within (or performed by) any combination ofcomputing devices within the lighting infrastructure applicationsframework, such as lighting node platforms, gateway platforms, sitecontrollers, and other computing devices connected to lightinginfrastructures. In various embodiments, the various applicationscomponents 582-588 may be within the service platform or alternativelyexternal to the service platform, such as components associated with theparties that develop applications.

In various embodiments, a LIAF may be used to generate revenue forvarious entities that contribute to the LIAF. As described above,lighting infrastructure owners may contribute the lighting and powerfacilities (poles, fixtures, etc.), LIAF operators may provide thehardware, software, network and configuration and monitoring resourcesto enable applications and application services on a day-to-day basis,and application providers (or application service providers) maycontribute the functionality used by end user devices. Based on thesecontributions, a business scheme may be implemented by which revenue maygenerated by an LIAF operator, applications operators (e.g., third-partyapp developers), and lighting infrastructure owners based on thesharing, communication, storing, and processing of data, applications,and services associated with the LIAF.

Stakeholder entities related to a LIAF may include all entities who mayreceive revenue, monies, benefits, credits, or other compensation fortheir participation in the network. In particular, the owners of thelighting infrastructure may be key stakeholders of the lightinginfrastructure based applications. These owners are the entities thatown the light-pole/fixture and the property on which the lightinginfrastructure is located. Lighting may be a cost center because ofcapital investment, energy related monthly bills and additionalmaintenance costs. Lighting infrastructure owners may be compensated (orreimbursed) for permitting lighting node platforms to be installed andutilized within their properties. Lighting infrastructure owners maytypically receive revenues from LIAF operators in exchange or based ondata collected from the lighting node platforms within lightinginfrastructures (e.g., authorized access). Revenue to lightinginfrastructure owners may also come from application partners based onvarious agreements. This revenue may permit lighting infrastructureowners to offset at least some of the capital, operational, andmaintenance expenses associated with lighting node platforms and relatedelements of the LIAF that are deployed within the lightinginfrastructures.

Another key stakeholder may be the LIAF operators (or LIAF serviceproviders). These may be the entities that provide hardware and softwareplatforms deployed within lighting infrastructure (e.g., parkinggarages, etc.) to provide the data and services on a day-to-day basisfor various applications. Revenues to LIAF operators may be fromapplication providers/owners using data from LIAF, which such revenuesbased on the type, frequency, amount of the data provided to applicationproviders, the location and demand for data (or data demand), and wellas the time frame required for the data. LIAF operators may also receiverevenue based on transmitting/storing/processing custom data requestedby custom application vendors. In an embodiment, LIAF operators may alsoreceive revenues based on applications developed by the LIAF operators(e.g., applications for business using the LIAF data, such as in aretail environment/context). In various embodiments, the LIAF operatorsmay receive various revenues from application and application servicedevelopers based on the type or use of shared data. For example, LIAFoperators may receive revenue for providing access to custom,aggregated, correlated, and/or specific data, such as data indicatingenergy usage (voltage and current), light status, environmental info(e.g., temperature), light presence, gas presence (e.g., carbonmonoxide, etc.), accelerometer status, intrusion detector status,wireless signaling information (e.g., Bluetooth MAC addresses, RFIDdata), application-specific sensor data (e.g., intrusion sensor,vibration sensor, motion sensor, audio, people detection, vehicledetection, vehicle details sensor, etc.). Various data types receivedand processed by the LIAF are described below.

Other important stakeholder entities may include the applicationproviders (or operators) and owners. These entities may develop,distribute, and sell applications or application services that utilizedata collected, processed and distributed by the LIAF. Revenue sourcesfor application providers may be tied to their applications, applicationservices, and relevant data associated with the LIAF. In an embodiment,one revenue source may be that users of an application or theapplication services pay a license fee or Software As A Service (SaaS)usage fee, which may be typically either time interval based, or paid asa one-time license fee. This fee may be based on different levels ofusage, for example, standard, professional, and administrator. The usagefee may be dependent on the type of data (e.g. raw or summarized,real-time vs. non real-time, etc.), access to historical data, based ondata priced dynamically by demand, and on the location associated withdata. Another revenue source for application providers may be related toadvertisers. In particular, advertisers (or businesses that want toadvertise products or services to applications and application-serviceusers) may pay advertisement fees for each application or service. Invarious embodiments, advertisers may be involved in applicationsdistributed to users based on user acceptance of such exposure toadvertising (e.g., opt-in/out).

Other key stakeholders may be business entities interested in buyingcarbon credits that are generated from energy and environmental savingsachieved by installing LED lights, sensors, and networks to furtherimprove the energy efficiency and savings. Each saved kilowatt-Hour(kWh) may result in environmental green house gas (GHG) emissionsavoidance/savings. These savings may be translated to carbon creditswhich may then be traded to businesses that require additional carboncredits. For example, based on calculated energy savings related to alighting infrastructure with lighting node platform devices, a serviceplatform computer may trade, sell, or otherwise utilize carbon creditsachieved via those savings.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment method 600 for implementing a generalrevenue model that may be used in combination with a lightinginfrastructure application framework (or LIAF). In block 602, users maycompensate application providers (e.g., pay a fee, accept advertising,agree to remit a portion of carbon credit, etc.) in exchange for use ofan application with access to the lighting infrastructure applicationframework. This may involve users registering for an account with aprovider of the application (e.g., a third-party app developer).Alternatively, users may register an account with the LIAF operator viaa computing device associated with the service platform 110. Forexample, a database registration may store a link or association betweena user and a user device with an application utilizing the lightingframework. The authorization for the user's devices to use applicationsthat access a LIAF may be limited in time, data volume, number ofapplication uses, or any other such limitation. A user may furtherselect access to only a portion of information from a LIAF. For example,a LIAF may be associated with multiple geographic locations havingdifferent costs associated with each location, and a user may elect toreceive information only from a certain geographic area. Alternatively,a user may elect to receive LIAF data only during a certain time of day,and charges may vary depending on the time of day or for times when theLIAF is at peak resource usage. Further still, in certain embodiments, auser may elect between viewing advertising in exchange for free accessto at least a portion of the LIAF or paying a fee.

In block 604, application providers may compensate the LIAF operator toaccess the lighting infrastructure application framework (e.g., pay afee to the LIAF operator, enable user-directed advertising, etc.).Similar to the registration and election for users described above,application providers may register with a LIAF and elect options forLIAF use by an application. For example, as described further below, aLIAF may include a wide variety of sensors and controllable devices,including cameras, temperature sensors, microphones, and other suchdevices. Certain applications may elect only to receive information fromcertain types of such LIAF devices. Additionally, any other such time,location, or other limitation on device use within the LIAF may beelected. Further still, a LIAF may provide processing resources orfilters on information collected by the LIAF. For example, rather thanreceiving access to a camera feed, an application may instead receiveanalysis results from a camera feed output which may provide analysisinformation such as a number of pedestrians or cars passing within viewof the camera. In alternative embodiments, application providers mayprovide such analysis services to the LIAF or to other applicationproviders in exchange for revenue.

In block 606, the lighting infrastructure framework operator maycompensate (e.g., pay a fee to) lighting infrastructure operators thatown or manage locations where physical lighting node platforms, gatewayplatforms, sensors, and/or controllers are located. Such compensationmay be flat fees, profit sharing, rent, leases, or other benefits basedon the use of the small areas where physical components of a lightingnode platform device, gateway platform device, sensor, controller, orother device reside. For example, a building owner may be paid a fee forproviding permission to place a lighting node platform device withmultiple sensors on the building. The compensation paid from the LIAFoperator to the lighting infrastructure owner may be based on location,number and type of sensors and devices placed, bandwidth available tothe platform, or any other such quality of the platform. Thecompensation may further be based on actual usage by users orapplications, or may simply be a flat fee.

In various alternative embodiments, combinations of such entities may bemixed, such that a lighting infrastructure owner may be a user and anapplication provider, or a LIAF operator may also be an applicationprovider, with any appropriate revenue arrangement created for revenueto flow and support the LIAF as described herein.

For illustration purposes: a revenue flow for an embodiment lightinginfrastructure application framework may be initiated when a user devicedownloads an app configured to access data related to the LIAF. The userdevice may transmit over the Internet financial or other compensationinformation (e.g., credit card information) to a server associated withthe developer of the app (i.e., an application provider) over theInternet, thus enabling revenue to the application provider. In responseto receiving information from the user device (or on a periodic basis),the server associated with the developer of the app may transmitfinancial or other compensation information of the application providerto a computing device (or server) associated with a LIAF operator,enabling revenue to the LIAF operator. In response to receiving theinformation from the server associated with the developer of the app (oron a periodic basis), the LIAF operator computing device may transmitfinancial or other compensation information (e.g., flat fee credits,etc.) to a device associated with a lighting infrastructure owner (e.g.,a parking garage owner), enabling revenue to the lighting infrastructureowner.

FIG. 7A illustrates an embodiment method 700 for a computing device toperform operations for calculating fees/revenue in conjunction with anLIAF. In various embodiments, revenue generation and calculation may beautomated by the computing device, which may be a service platformcomputer (e.g., server) that is part of a LIAF, a device associated withand maintained by a third-party applications provider (e.g., anapplications provider server), or a combination of computing deviceassociated with the LIAF.

In block 701, the computing device may register or authorize devices touse the application based on received registration information. Forexample, the computing device may create and store accounts forapplication providers that have transmitted sign-up data (oralternatively user devices that have downloaded an application). In anembodiment, registration information may include authenticationcredentials, access-control credentials, licensing information,advertisement authorization information (e.g., permission to participatein advertising, etc.), payment information, and/or a selection of one ormore of a plurality of data types (e.g., a selection of a requested datatype from plurality of data types that may be reported by lighting nodeplatforms). In various embodiments, the selectable data types mayinclude energy usage data, light status data, temperature data, humiditydata, light detection data, camera data, motion detection data, audiodata, person detection data, and vehicle detection data, correlateddata, and aggregated data. In an embodiment, the operations in block 701may be performed continually to enable the computing device to receiveregistration information from various devices at various times. In block702, the computing device may receive a request from a first device toaccess data from a lighting infrastructure application framework (LIAF)or associated network. For example, the computing device (e.g., aservice platform computer) may receive a request from a third-partydevice for open parking space data. In various embodiments, the firstdevice may be a user device or alternatively a device associated with anapplication provider (e.g., a third-party server/device). However, inanother embodiment, the first device may be a module, component, thread,subroutine, or other element of the computing device. In an embodiment,the request may be for data related to a particular lighting nodeplatform of a plurality of lighting node platforms. For example, therequest may be for ambient light sensor data related to a particularlighting node platform within a parking deck. In various embodiments,the request may be transmitted by or in associated with an application,such as a parking garage application executing on a mobile device, athird-party device (e.g., a third-party server), or a service platformcomputing device. For example, the request may be transmitted by anapplication controlled or executed by a subroutine executing on thecomputing device. In block 704, the computing device may verify anauthorization for the application operating on the first device toaccess the requested data from the LIAF. Such an authorization may bebased on a previous registration, a previous payment submitted to thecomputing device and related to the requesting device, and/or anadvertising relationship established with the user of the first device.For example, the computing device may evaluate a pass code, account ID,or other identifying information within the request to determine whetherthe requesting device is registered, authorized, or otherwise eligibleto receive the requested data. In optional determination block 705, thecomputing device may determine whether the device is authorized, and ifno such authorization exists (e.g., no payment history or existingadvertising relationship) (i.e., optional determination block 705=“No”),in optional block 706 the computing device may transmit a request forpayment and/or registration from the device, and may continue with theoperations in block 701. Payment requests may be for direct paymentsfrom users or payments through the application or in other forms.

Once the service platform computer has verified that a user device isauthorized to receive the requested information (i.e., optionaldetermination block 705=“Yes”), in block 707, the computing device maytransmit a response to the request from the application based at leastin part on the data from the LIAF (e.g., data from a first lighting nodeplatform of the framework). This information may be stored in a databasethat is communicatively coupled to the computing device, may beretrieved in real time from lighting node platforms and/or gatewayplatform devices, and/or may be retrieved from a memory within thecomputing device.

In block 708, the computing device may calculate a fee and/or revenuebased on the transmitted response. For example, based on the type ofdata transmitted in response to the request, the computing device maycalculate an amount to charge the data recipient (e.g., applicationprovider, user, etc.). The calculation in block 708 may also includecalculating any revenue associated with the request. For example, thecomputing device may calculate the amount of credits, money, or otherbenefits that should be conferred to the lighting infrastructure ownerassociated with the data transmitted in response to the request (e.g., apercentage of any fee charged to a user, a reimbursement amount based onpower usage, etc.). In an embodiment, calculated fees may be based on(or influenced by) other factors, such as the region/area where thelighting infrastructure (and thus lighting node platforms) is located,the periodicity of the data collection from the lighting infrastructure,subsidies that affect the LIAF in relation to the data, as well as anytraded carbon credits. For example, the fee for transmitting a certaintype of data to a third-party application provider (or an app executingon a user device) may be higher based on the popularity of the parkinggarage that includes the reporting lighting node platforms. In otherwords, the data may be priced dynamically. In optional block 710, thecomputing device may transmit messages indicating calculated values. Forexample, the computing device may transmit a billing message to anapplication provider or alternatively an income statement to a lightinginfrastructure owner.

FIG. 7B illustrates an embodiment method 750 for a computing device toperform operations for calculating fees/revenue in conjunction with anLIAF. The method 750 is similar to the method 700, except the method 750includes operations for calculating fees and costs for various entitiesbased on accesses of data.

In block 701, the computing device may register or authorize devices touse the application based on received registration information. In block702, the computing device may receive a request from a first device toaccess data from a lighting infrastructure application framework (LIAF)or associated network, such as an external device (e.g., third-partyserver, etc.) executing an application that requests data from a serviceplatform computer. In block 704, the computing device may verify anauthorization for the application operating on the first device toaccess the requested data from the LIAF. In optional determination block705, the computing device may determine whether the device isauthorized, and if no such authorization exists (e.g., no paymenthistory or existing advertising relationship) (i.e., optionaldetermination block 705=“No”), in optional block 706 the computingdevice may transmit a request for payment and/or registration from thedevice, and may continue with the operations in block 701.

Once the service platform computer has verified that a user device isauthorized to receive the requested information (or optionaldetermination block 705=“Yes”), in block 707, the computing device maytransmit a response to the request from the application based at leastin part on the data from the LIAF (e.g., data from a first lighting nodeplatform of the framework).

In certain embodiments, the computing device may use a record ofinformation requested and communicated to automatically determinerevenue or fees from an application based on LIAF usage. Accordingly, inblock 752 the computing device may determine lighting infrastructureapplication framework usage characteristics for the application based onthe request, and in block 754 the computing device may automaticallycalculate usage fees/revenue associated with the determined usagecharacteristics for the application. In other words, compensation forapplication use may be calculated. Such a calculation may be doneperiodically or following application use of the system, with anautomatic bill created and submitted to an application providerassociated or alternatively directly to a user of the first device. Inan embodiment, the fees/revenue calculation may be based at least inpart on the data amount, type, frequency of delivery, data location,demand, request time, and data time frame, as well as any informationstored in association with the requesting device (e.g., account detailswith contractual terms, promotions, etc.).

Similarly, in certain embodiments, the computing device may use a recordof information requested and communicated to automatically determinerevenue or fees due to a lighting infrastructure owner based on use ofthe platform and devices associated with a lighting infrastructureowner. Accordingly, in block 756 the computing device may determinelighting node platform usage by the lighting infrastructure applicationframework related to the transmitted response, and in block 758 thecomputing device may automatically calculate lighting infrastructurecosts/usage fees for a lighting infrastructure owner related to thedetermined lighting node platform usage (or lighting node platformdevice usage), such as cost/fees for receiving lighting node platformdata from lighting node platforms within the owner's lightinginfrastructure. Just as with the application fees calculated in block754, the calculation in block 758 may be done periodically or followingapplication use of the system, with an automatic payment created andsubmitted to an application provider. In certain embodiments, a systemmay be structured to provide a minimum payment to a lightinginfrastructure owner, with additional payments based on calculated usageprovided above the minimum payment. In an embodiment, the computingdevice may also be configured to update a payment database or otheraccount associated with the lighting infrastructure owner based on thecalculation in block 758.

In optional block 710, the computing device may transmit messagesindicating calculated values. The messages may include the variouscalculations of blocks 754 and/or block 758. For example, when thecomputing device is a service platform computing device within the LIAF,the computing device may transmit a revenue statement message to alighting infrastructure owner device, a fee/bill message to anapplication provider computer and/or a user device. In anotherembodiment, the computing device may transmit messages to financialinstitution devices (e.g., banking servers, billing service device,etc.) communicating the various calculated fees/revenues.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment method 800 for a gateway platformdevice to perform operations for calculating fees and/or revenuesassociated with usage within a lighting infrastructure applicationframework. In other words, a LIAF may be configured to support gatewayplatform devices with the functionality to perform data analysis and/ordata processing. In an embodiment, the gateway platform device may beconfigured to perform method 800 to create and transmit aggregated,correlated, customized, or otherwise filter data from sensors within aLIAF (e.g., lighting node platform sensor data).

In block 802, a device (e.g., a gateway platform device) may receivesensor data and/or controller information for sensors and/or controllersin a local area network coupled to the device and lighting node platformdevices within the local area network. In block 804, the device maycalculate, using a data processor of the device, device fees and revenueinformation associated with the sensor data and/or controllerinformation for one or more lighting infrastructure owners associatedwith the device and any lighting node platform devices in the local areanetwork. In block 806, the device may transmit the calculated devicefees and revenue information associated with the device and any lightingnode platform devices to a computing device associated with a lightinginfrastructure application framework. For example, a gateway platformdevice may transmit sensor data and/or revenue/fees information obtainedfrom lighting node platforms to a service platform computer or serverfor storage, further processing, and/or distribution to applications. Inanother embodiment, the device may be any computing device within alighting infrastructure, such as a site controller, lighting nodeplatform devices, etc.

FIG. 9A illustrates an embodiment method 900 for a computing device,such as a service platform computer, to calculate energy savings andcarbon credit information associated with lighting node platforms. TheUnited States Environment Protection Agency has established models forcalculation of carbon emissions saved by reducing electric use, based onthe number of Kilowatt-Hours of electricity saved. Therefore, if theelectricity savings is known over time, the quantity of C02 emissionssaved can be calculated and carbon credits may be calculated. In certainembodiments, aspects of a system may be particularly structured tocomply with the requirements of a carbon offset policy/system. LIAFhardware and software may include a particularly tailored system withthe ability to monitor actual energy usage for every single luminaire(or lighting node platform) connected to the network. This may bereal-time information, provided on an effectively continuous basis. Inparticular, for each luminaire deployment within a LIAF, the amount ofenergy savings of each luminaire (such as saved via a LED light enginedescribed above) compared to legacy technologies may be identified(e.g., the savings may be a known value) and carbon credits may becalculated based on the savings. For some luminaires, there may be nodimming so energy usage may be the same whenever the light is on. Butfor many others, dimming may be done based on time of day, occupancy,ambient light conditions, or other parameters. In these cases the actualenergy usage will vary, often widely. In an embodiment, a serviceplatform computer may monitor energy usage for luminaries in the networkusing a carbon credit module 512 as described above with reference toFIG. 5A.

The value of carbon credits (or the credits themselves) may then beallocated between entities (or stakeholders) associated with the LIAF,including the lighting infrastructure owners, the LIAF operator, and anyassociated application providers. In particular, a LIAF operator maycalculate, monitor, and transfer carbon credits either to an exchangefor sale or for direct sale according to whatever official models are inplace in an area or carbon framework associated with the LIAF.

In block 902, the computing device may receive real time energy usagedata from a plurality of lighting node platforms as part of a lightinginfrastructure application network/framework. In block 904, thecomputing device may calculate energy savings associated with managementand use of the plurality of lighting node platforms in the lightinginfrastructure application framework. In block 906, the computing devicemay automatically calculate carbon credit information based on thecalculated energy savings associated with management and use of theplurality of lighting node platforms in the lighting infrastructureapplication framework, and in block 908 may transmit a request forcarbon credits based on the calculated carbon credit information. Forexample, the transmitted requested for carbon credits may be to a deviceassociated with a third-party credit distribution service, a governmentagency, and/or any entity capable of providing carbon credits. Suchrequests may include proof of the calculated carbon credit information,such as energy saving reports, invoices, and/or other information thatmay substantiate energy savings or other eligibility. In optional block910, the computing device may receive carbon credit award notificationsin response to the request, and in optional block 912, the computingdevice may trade carbon credits to a broker, carbon credit market, orother third-party device for additional revenue for the LIAF operatorand/or the lighting infrastructure owner (e.g., a light pole owner). Forexample, carbon credits that are awarded based on the request may bedivided and shared between the operator of a service platform and theparking garage owner that installed lighting node platform devicescontributing to the carbon credits. In an embodiment, the computingdevice may trade the carbon credits on an exchange or service that isassociated with the LIAF. For example, the computing device (e.g., aservice platform computer) may broadcast messages to partner devicesindicating that the carbon credits are available for bidding. An exampleof such a bidding procedure is described below with reference to FIG.9B.

In an embodiment, the computing device may determine the amount ofadditional revenue to share or distribute to various parties associatedwith the LIAF based on various schemes, and additionally may charge aservice fee for requesting/trading carbon credits. The method 900 maythus provide an additional revenue model in association with a networkor LIAF as described herein. In various embodiments, the operations inmethod 900 may be performed by a single device, or by various deviceswithin a LIAF system. In various embodiments, the computing device maybe a service platform computing device or a device within the lightinginfrastructure (e.g., a gateway platform device).

FIG. 9B illustrates an embodiment method 950 for a computing deviceproviding a data market that utilizes bids for receiving LIAF data. Ingeneral, the computing device (e.g., a service platform computingdevice) may perform operations to make certain data from lighting nodeplatforms exclusive, scarce, or otherwise dynamically priced. Forexample, data from a particular source, such as data from light poles ina dense urban area (e.g., a parking garage near Times Square in New YorkCity), may be more important and thus valued at a higher price than datafrom another source, such as data from light poles in a less densesuburban or rural area (e.g., a parking garage in Long Island outsideNew York City). The method 950 may be performed to enable a market (oran exchange) where entities, such as application providers, can bid forcertain data of the LIAF.

In block 951, the computing device may receive data from a plurality oflighting node platforms as part of a lighting infrastructure applicationnetwork/framework, such as energy use data, various types of sensordata, etc. In block 952, the computing device may calculate a value andbidding conditions of the received data. As described above, calculatingthe value may be similar to the operations for calculating afee/revenue. For example, the value may be based on the lightinginfrastructure from which the data came (e.g., the power usage, utilityrates, subsidies, etc.). However, the value may also be weighted,adjusted, or otherwise determined by other value factors, such as thetype of data (e.g., motion sensor data, environmental data,aggregated/correlated data, etc.), the collection area from which thedata comes (e.g., urban parking garage information vs. suburban parkinggarage information, etc.), how often the data is reported (e.g., everyyear, every day, etc.), the demand for the data (e.g., higher demand fora particular type of data or data source for a higher amount, etc.),etc. The bidding conditions may include a threshold bid amount overwhich the computing device may be permitted to award the data to abidding party(ies). The bidding conditions may also include the numberof bidding party(ies) that may receive the data and/or the time periodfor which parties may bid to receive the data. For example, the biddingconditions may be calculated based on the rarity of the received datatype, the expense of collecting the data (e.g., video data may requirehigh bandwidth or sensor energy use), and/or stored information thatindicates the number/type of recipients as permitted by a lightinginfrastructure owner.

In optional block 954, the computing device may broadcast theavailability of the data for potential recipients, such as applicationproviders known to have previously received/requested such data. Thecomputing device may store a list of all entities, users, applicationproviders, etc. that may have a need, prior use, or other interest inthe received data. For example, the computing device may be configuredto email all stored and relevant entities of the calculated value.

In block 956, the computing device may receive bid messages for thereceived data. The bid messages may indicate various monetary bids(e.g., a certain dollar/currency figure for a particular data set,etc.), or other valuable consideration (e.g., carbon credits for tradein exchange for data). For example, the computing device may receivesignals via the Internet from application provider servers or otherthird-party devices that include bid amounts for receiving the data. Indetermination block 958, the computing device may determine whether thebidding conditions have been met. For example, the computing device maydetect whether a lowest bid for the data has been received in a bidmessage, whether a certain maximum or minimum number of bidding partieshave transmitted bid messages, whether a bidding time period hasexpired, etc. If the bidding conditions have not been met (i.e.,determination block 958=“No”), the computing device may continue withthe operations in block 956.

If the bidding conditions have been met (i.e., determination block958=“Yes”), in block 960, the computing device may transmit the data tothe recipient(s) (e.g., bidding parties) with the winning bid(s). Forexample, the computing device may transmit lighting node platform devicesensor data to a server of an application provider that transmitted abid message with the highest bid. In optional block 962, the computingdevice may transmit messages to the recipient(s) indicating fees basedon either the calculated value of the data or the winning bid messages.For example, when parties are determined to receive the data based on abidding condition of a certain number of winners, the message mayindicate the recipient owes the calculated value. As another example,when the bidding conditions indicate that the highest bidder receivesthe data, the message may indicate that the recipient owes the bidamount the computing device received in that recipient's highest bidmessage.

In another embodiment, the computing device may also be configured toreceive bid messages for carbon credits associated with the LIAF, thusalso offering a market (or exchange) for carbon credits that have beenaccrued in relation to the LIAF (e.g., accrued by lighting pole owners).For example, the method 950 may be performed to transmit data and/orcarbon credit information to bidding parties in exchange for bids thatmeet or exceed the calculated value of the carbon credits and/or data.

FIGS. 10A-10B illustrate embodiment methods for transmitting software,routines, scripts, instructions, and/or applications to various devicesassociated with a LIAF. As described above, the LIAF may utilizenumerous types of software, such as system applications (or apps)developed by LIAF operators, owner applications (or apps) developed bylighting infrastructure owners, consumer applications, partnerapplications (or apps) for various use cases (e.g., security management,traffic reporting, parking management, etc.), customer applications,etc. Such software may be designed for execution on various devices,such as lighting node platforms, gateway platform devices, sitecontrollers, personal computers, laptop computers, tablets, smartphonesand/or mobile devices of users, etc. In various embodiments, the LIAFmay utilize a computing device, such as a service platform computer(s),that is configured to store, manage, and distribute these variousapplications and software to devices in communication with the LIAF.

FIG. 10A illustrates an embodiment method 1000 for a computing device totransmit software (e.g., applications) in response to requests fromdevices within a LIAF. In block 1002, the computing device, such as aservice platform computer, may receive software for execution withinlighting infrastructure devices (e.g., for execution by lighting nodeplatform devices). For example, such software may be an app orapplication developed by a lighting infrastructure owner or applicationprovider. In various embodiments, the software may include scripts,routines, or other modules that are programmed to operate on processorsand components known to be within lighting node platform devices,gateway platform devices, site controllers, or other computing devicesassociated with lighting infrastructures. In an embodiment, the softwaremay further include applications, routines, or other instructions forexecution by service platform computing devices, such as custom dataprocessing software developed to generate data for application providersand/or other third-parties. In block 1004, the computing device maystore the received software in relation to the provider of the software,such as by storing the software in a database with a link to an accountfor a lighting infrastructure owner, an application provider thatdeveloped the software, and/or a third-party developer of the software.In various embodiments, the computing device may determine whether thesoftware is from a registered or authorized entity prior to storing orotherwise processing the software.

In block 1006, the computing device may receive a request for thesoftware from devices within a lighting infrastructure. For example,request messages may be received from one or a plurality of lightingnode platforms and/or gateway platform devices configured toperiodically request new software from a service platform. In anembodiment, the requesting devices may be mobile device, such as mobiledevices within a parking garage. For example, the computing device maytransmit an app related to finding open parking spaces to a mobiledevice. In block 1007, the computing device may verify securitycredentials of the requesting devices. In an embodiment, the operationsin block 1007 may be similar to the operations in blocks 704-706described above. For example, the computing device may determine whetherthe requesting devices are known or authorized before executing anyother actions to transmit software. In determination block 1008, thecomputing device may determine whether the requested software isrelevant to devices requesting the software. In other words, thecomputing device may identify the nature, characteristics, intended use,hardware requirements, and freshness of the software in relation to therequesting devices. For example, the computing device may compare dataindicating the software operating system specifications to storedspecifications information related to the requesting device to determinewhether the device may execute the software properly. If the requestedsoftware is not relevant (i.e., determination block 1008=“No”), thecomputing device may do nothing and the method 1000 may end. In anembodiment, the relevancy determination may be based on authenticationand access control credentials presented along with the request.

However, if the requested software is relevant (i.e., determinationblock 1008=“Yes”), in block 1010 the computing device may transmit therequested software, as well as installation commands, configuration dataand other information, to the requesting devices within the lightinginfrastructure. For example, the computing device may transmit packetsover the Internet that include a binary and commands for extracting thebinary for installation in a lighting node platform. In optional block1012, the computing device may receive updates to the software, such asfirmware updates, app binary updates, new configuration data, newlibraries, etc. In optional block 1014, the computing device maytransmit the updates to the requesting devices. In an embodiment, thecomputing device may enable an “app store” service, where software,applications, apps, and other software may be requested and delivered todevices. In other embodiments, the computing device may performoperations to credit/debit financial accounts or otherwise acceptcompensation for storing, processing, and transmitting software todevices. For example, a billing component as described above may beutilized to bill (or alternatively reward) application providers foreach software transmission.

In optional block 1015, the computing device may calculate a fee and/orrevenue based on processing related to the software. In other words, thecomputing device may determine how much to charge parties for storing,processing, and distributing software for use in lightinginfrastructures, as well as determine how much revenue to share withlighting infrastructure owners affected by the software. For example,the computing device may calculate a charge for a third-partyapplication developer indicating a fee for each time the developer'ssoftware (or software update) was transmitted to lighting node platformswithin a parking garage. Additionally, the calculated fees/revenues mayinclude amounts associated with any data received in relation totransmitted software. In particular, the fee/revenues may be based ondata transmitted in association with at least one of lighting nodeplatform devices executing the software. For example, the computingdevice may calculate a fee for application providers for not only thestorage and distribution of the providers' software, but also for anydata that was received and processed in response to lighting nodeplatform devices executing the software/script from an applicationprovider. In optional block 1016, the computing device may transmitmessages indicating calculated fees and/or revenues related to thesoftware. For example, the computing device may transmit revenuestatements to lighting infrastructure owner devices (e.g., managementcomputers), users, a billing server, and/or devices associated withapplication developers.

In a non-limiting illustration: an application provider may provide thecomputing device with an application and/or script that configureslighting node platform devices within a parking lot to gather andtransmit specific security information (e.g., motion, glass break, andtraffic data) for use by the application provider. Accordingly, thecomputing device (e.g., service platform computer) may charge theapplication provider for each download of the application/script tolighting node platform devices as well as for each transmission orpacket received that includes the specific security information. Thecomputing device may also transmit messages that indicate a calculatedrevenue (or share) that is due to the owner of the parking lot based onthe downloading of the applications/scripts as well as the eventualtransmission of the specific security information.

FIG. 10B illustrates an embodiment method 1050 for a computing device totransmit software (e.g., applications) in response to requests fromthird-party devices. The method 1050 is similar to the method 1000described above, except that the method 1050 may be performed to performwide distributions of software provided by a developer. For example, anapplication provider (e.g., government agency) may request that aservice platform computer transmit a routine, suite, or app to alllighting node platforms within a particular geographic region, and whenexecuted, the app/script may cause the lighting node platforms tobroadcast an audio message.

In block 1002, the computing device, such as a service platformcomputer, may receive software for execution within lightinginfrastructure devices. In block 1004, the computing device may storethe received software in relation to an application provider, such as bystoring the software in a relational database with a link to an accountfor a lighting infrastructure owner/application provider that developedthe software. In block 1052, the computing device may receive a requestfrom a third-party device to transmit the software to destinationdevices. For example, the request may indicate a list of lighting nodeplatforms within a certain lighting infrastructure that should receivethe software. Such a third-party device may include acomputer/server/device associated with an application provider (e.g., anapp developer), such as an application developer who wants his newlighting node platform application to be distributed to lighting nodeplatforms devices within a certain parking garage. In variousembodiments, the third-party device may or may not be associated with alighting infrastructure owner (e.g., the third-party device may not bedirectly affiliated with the lighting node platforms devices and/or theowner of the parking garage including those lighting node platforms). Inblock 1007, the computing device may verify security credentials of therequesting devices. For example, the computing device may determinewhether the third-party device has the correct authorization to causesoftware to be transmitted/installed into lighting node platform devices(e.g., destination devices).

In determination block 1008, the computing device may determine whetherthe requested software is relevant to the destination devices. In anembodiment, the computing device may determine whether the third-partydevice has the authorization to trigger the transmission of the softwareto the destination devices. If the requested software is not relevant(i.e., determination block 1008=“No”), the computing device may donothing and the method 1000 may end. In an embodiment, the relevancydetermination may be based on authentication and access controlcredentials presented along with the software.

However, if the requested software is relevant (i.e., determinationblock 1008=“Yes”), in block 1054, the computing device may transmit therequested software, as well as installation commands, configuration dataand other information, to the destination devices. For example, thecomputing device may transmit packets over the Internet that include abinary and commands for extracting the binary for installation inlighting node platforms of a certain parking garage. In optional block1012, the computing device may receive updates to the software, such asfirmware updates, app binary updates, new configuration data, newlibraries, etc. In optional block 1056, the computing device maytransmit the updates to the destination devices. In optional block 1015,the computing device may calculate a fee and/or revenue based onprocessing related to the software. In optional block 1016, thecomputing device may transmit messages indicating calculated fees and/orrevenues related to the software.

FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment method 1100 for a computing device toprocess data received from lighting node platforms within a LIAF. Asdescribed above, the LIAF may utilize data related to lightinginfrastructures, such as parking garages, to provide to users, lightinginfrastructure owners, application providers, etc. In variousembodiments, the data may be used directly by parties, or alternatively,may be processed, analyzed, and otherwise processed. For example, datafrom numerous sensor arrays may be combined, evaluated, and interpretedby routines executing within a service platform, gateway platform, orother device in order to detect trends or predefined circumstances ofinterest. Accordingly, the method 1100 may be performed by the computingdevice in order to gather and share information related to data fromlighting node platforms within the LIAF. In an embodiment, the computingdevice may be a service platform computer configured to utilize a datacollection component as described above with reference to FIG. 5B. Invarious embodiments, the method 1100 may be performed by various devicesor combinations of devices within the LIAF, such as gateway platformdevices.

In block 1102, the computing device may receive data reported (orcollected) by light node platforms within a lighting infrastructure,such as lighting node platforms on light poles within a parking deck orgarage. In an embodiment, the data may be received via WAN or LANcommunications.

The received data may include various data types/categories and contentthat may be utilized by user applications, lighting infrastructureowners, and other entities associated with the LIAF. For example, thereceived data may include raw sensor data collected from sensors withinlighting node platforms and/or processed data from gateway platformdevices. In particular, the data may include specific data thatindicates energy usage (e.g., voltage and current) at a lighting nodeplatform, on a per light engine basis for the entire light, on a perlight engine channel, or on a per sensor basis. The data may alsoinclude specific data that indicates the status of a light, which mayinclude an administrative status, such as temperature threshold orenergy cost to trigger dimming, dimming percentage (e.g., bi-leveldimming percentage), reporting of light status that includes settings ofdetection interval and reporting interval. Light status information mayfurther include an operational status, such as present status of a light(e.g., on or off, dimmed, dimming amount/percentage, and presence offailed or abnormal LED channels, etc.). The data may also includespecific data that indicates environmental data, (e.g., temperature,humidity and atmospheric pressure at the lighting node platform) andlighting data (e.g., ambient light, blue/red light color, etc.). Thereceived data may include audio data, people detection data (e.g.,single person, multiple people within an area, duration of sensorvisibility, the number of people detected within an area, etc.), vehicledetection data (e.g., single vehicle or multiple vehicles detected,duration of sensor visibility, etc.), and/or vehicle details sensor data(e.g., count, type, make, model, number plate recognition, and colorrecognition).

The data may also include specific data that indicates gases detected bysensors within lighting node platforms, such as carbon dioxide, carbonmonoxide, methane, natural gas, oxygen, propane, butane, ammonia, orhydrogen sulfide. Other types of data may include accelerometer status,intrusion detector status, Bluetooth MAC address, active, passive, andhybrid RFID tag data, ISO-18000-7, and DASH 7 data.

In various embodiments, the received data may also include data relevantto particular applications (or application specific sensor data).Application specific sensor data may include data collected by anintrusion sensor at the base of a light pole or light fixture which maybe used to detect the unauthorized opening of a cover at the base of alight pole or an unauthorized opening of the light fixture. Applicationspecific sensor data may include data collected by a vibration sensorwithin a lighting node platform that may be used to detect vibrationsrelated to intrusions, earthquake, and/or pole damage. Applicationspecific sensor data may include data collected by a motion sensor at alighting node platform which may be used to detect motion, the directionof that motion, and the type of that motion. The received data may alsoinclude correlated, custom, and/or aggregated data, as described below.

The computing device may process the received data to detect variouspredefined occurrences, events, conditions, and other importantinformation. Accordingly, in block 1104, the computing device mayanalyze the received data to detect the occurrence of predefined events,such as intrusions, gunshots, and entity detections. As described above,various data may be parsed, matched, converted, interpreted, analyzed,and otherwise processed to determine whether certain conditions have orhave not been satisfied in a lighting infrastructure. For example,received data may be compared to stored data patterns or evaluatedagainst threshold values to detect known events or conditions. Inparticular, based on received intrusion sensor data, the computingdevice may detect an unauthorized opening of a cover at the base of alight pole or an unauthorized opening of the light fixture. Based on anevaluation of received vibration sensor data, the computing device maydetect intrusions, earthquakes, and/or pole damage. Based on anevaluation of received motion sensor data, the computing device maydetect motion, the direction of that motion, and the type of thatmotion. Based on evaluated received audio sensor data, the computingdevice may detect glass breaking events, crowd formations, gunshotevents, vehicle engine on/off events, vehicle tire noise events, vehicledoor slam noise events, human communication events (e.g., yelling,talking, etc.), human distress noise events (e.g., pitch and volume ofdetected voice audio data, etc.), and multiple human communicationsevent (e.g., different voices present, etc.). In an embodiment, thereceived data may be evaluated to detect the presence of people. Forexample, based on the received data, the computing device may detect asingle person, multiple people, and the count of people near/in alighting infrastructure. In another embodiment, the computing device mayevaluate received data to detect vehicles, such as a single vehicle,multiple vehicles, and the duration of sensor visibility. Further, thereceived data may be used to detect a vehicle count, or informationregarding make, model, color, etc.

In block 1106, the computing device may analyze data associated withmultiple sources (e.g., data within the received data) to detect theoccurrence of predefined events or conditions. In other words, thecomputing device may combine and process the received data from onesource (e.g., one lighting node platform device) with data from othersources (e.g., other lighting nodes) to determine the existence ofconditions (or correlated events) that may not be visible based on thedata from a single data source. In various embodiments, the analysis ofblock 1106 may involve correlating sensor data received from multiplelighting node platforms (i.e., correlated data) and/or combining andanalyzing data from multiple sensors within a single lighting nodeplatform. For example, sensor data from a motion detector and a peopledetector within a lighting node platform of a lighting infrastructuremay be analyzed to determine that a lighting function (or command) toturn on, off, dim or brighten lights should be activated or transmitted.As another example, motion sensor data and people count data may beanalyzed to determine a count of people with motion detection to provideinformation about security, retail activity or traffic related events.As yet another example, motion detection data coupled with vehicledetection data can be analyzed to indicate a breach in security of afacility. Motion sensor data and audio data from multiple sensors may becorrelated to detect glass breaking events, crowd formations, gunshotevents, people talking, tire noises (e.g., squealing, speeding, etc.).

The time data collection is conducted may be combined with data fromsensors such as discussed above, to detect motion detection during openand closed hours at a facility (e.g., activity in normal versus abnormalhours of a garage). Ambient light and motion detection may be correlatedto detect the occurrence of a lighting control event. Motion data andvideo imagery from sensors may be analyzing to detect significant eventslike motion detection. Motion, audio and video imagery may becorrelated, as well as motion, audio, vehicle detection and videoimagery (or frames). In an embodiment, data received from variousenvironmental sensors may be correlated (e.g., temperature and humidity,temperature and barometric pressure, etc.). In another embodiment,environmental sensor data and gas sensor data may be correlated todetect patterns (e.g., air conditions, etc.).

Analyzing multiple data sources (e.g., sensors), such as motion andvehicle count or motion and audio, may be useful to generate informationfor performing various actions or transmitting commands, as describedbelow with reference to optional block 1116. For example, light levelsensors coupled to motion detection sensors may provide informationuseful for lighting control, motion detection data may be combined withvideo to cause certain data to be captured only when an event occurs,thereby saving bandwidth and/or video data storage space, and currentand historical sensor data (e.g., traffic flow patterns) can becorrelated to set or adjust the transmission of control signals.

In block 1108, the computing device may analyze the data to identifytrends and/or predict events in advance. In other words, the analysis ofthe received data may uncover predefined patterns that may be used toidentify future events (or future occurrences of predefined events) thatmay be of interest or importance to the devices and/or entitiesassociated with the LIAF. For example, the computing device may analyzethe received data against historical sensor data to identify statisticalinformation related to sensor data from a particular lighting nodeplatform. In another example, based on a determined gunshot eventdetected from audio sensor data, the computing device may predict thatemergency services may need to be called to a garage. Alternatively,based on a detected CO2 emissions event under a lighting node platform,the computing device may predict a vehicle may be about to vacate aparticular parking space. In an embodiment, the computing device mayanalyze stored received data to identify reoccurring conditions, such astimes of day when garages are empty/full, patterns of glass breakingand/or audio of screams for “help!” (e.g., indications of an organizedcriminal operation). For example, based on analysis of historical audiosensor data from a certain lighting node platform within a parkinggarage, the computing device may identify that parked cars are regularlybroken into at a certain time of day and day of week.

In block 1110, the computing device may aggregate data received overtime, such as by averaging sensor data received from lighting nodeplatforms in a lighting infrastructure. Aggregating may include using avariety of techniques, such as averaging, normalizing, and correctiveprocessing, to generate a representative data set. Aggregating may beused to generate representative values for a group of lighting nodeplatforms and/or lighting infrastructures. Aggregated data may begenerated to represent information about particular groups of lightingnode platforms sharing common characteristics, such as luminaire typesat a site (e.g., post-top and wall-pack luminaires); environmentallyprotected vs. unprotected luminaires; or luminaires outside exposedareas; lighting node platforms in a light area (e.g., pathway, parkinglot, driveway), lighting node platforms in a certain facility type(manufacturing, R&D), lighting node platforms in a certain corporateregion (e.g., international vs. domestic), etc. In an embodiment, thecomputing device may aggregate power usage data to represent groupingsby fixture type, facility, facility type, and/or geographical region. Inanother embodiment, environment sensing related aggregation may beprovided for geographical areas or facility types. In anotherembodiment, the computing device may aggregate data based onuser-specified criteria, such as time of day.

Various applications associated with the LIAF may utilize aggregateddata. For example, security applications may utilize aggregations forgeographical area or facility type, traffic applications may utilizeaggregations by time-of-day, week, month, year or by geographical area(e.g., school area vs. retail area), and retail applications may utilizeaggregations by time of day, week, month, etc., as well as bygeographical area or facility type (e.g., mall vs. small shoppingarea.).

In block 1112, the computing device may store data, such as the receiveddata and any analysis information generated from the operations inblocks 1104-1110, in relation to the reporting lighting node platformsand/or the related lighting infrastructure. For example, the computingdevice may store aggregated light sensor data in relation to a databaserecord associated with a parking garage entity that includes thelighting node platforms reporting the aggregated light sensor data. Asanother example, the computing device may store in a database filelinked to a particular lighting node platform all the audio, video, andmotion sensor data reported in the received data.

In block 1114, the computing device may transmit messages reporting dataand/or analyses, such as by transmitting data reports to third-partydevices, lighting infrastructure devices, and webpages used by users.Such messages may be used by applications, such as applicationstransmitted by application providers to end users. For example, amessage may include predicted predefined events, such as futurebreak-ins.

In optional block 1116, the computing device may also transmit commandsbased on the received data and/or analyses. For example, the computingdevice may transmit commands, operating instructions, scripts, software,control instructions, configuration data, and other information togateway platforms, lighting node platforms, site controllers, and otherdevices based on the operations of the method 1100. For example, thecommands may include instructions for a lighting node platform (orsensors coupled to the lighting node platform) to dim its light based onan identified trend that no cars enter a parking deck during a certainperiod of time. In an embodiment, based on identified trends, aggregateddata, correlated data or information, or other data evaluations, thecomputing device may be configured to transmit commands instructingdevices to increase sensor sensitivity, deactivate components, andadjust operating parameters of lighting node platforms. In variousembodiments, the computing device may transmit the commands based onapplications, stored protocols, or other requests received fromapplication providers, lighting infrastructure owners, and/or users. Inoptional block 1118, the computing device may wait a period beforecontinuing with the operations in block 1102.

In an embodiment, custom application development may allow users (orapplication providers) to specify data to be collected and forwarded tothe custom applications and services, actions to be performed based onthe data at the lighting node platforms, the format of the data that maybe forwarded to applications or application services, and management ofhistorical data. Custom data may additionally be created using rawcustom data from sensors, which may be filtered or identified based onuser specified criteria. One potential example may be custom datafiltered by time of day. This may enable analysis and filtering of datafor presentation of specifically tailored data including aggregated dataand correlated data.

Data that is received and processed by a LIAF may be used to provide awide number of open application uses. As lighting node platforms may notonly include various sensors for gathering data but also be placedwithin various scenarios, such as parking garages and facilities, theLIAF may access data that may be used by LIAF operators, lightinginfrastructure owners, application providers, and eventually end users.FIGS. 12A-13 show diagrams of embodiment applications that utilize dataassociated with lighting node platforms within a LIAF.

FIG. 12A is a diagram 1200 illustrating an embodiment parking managementapplication 1220. In such an application, lighting node platforms 104installed in various parking areas 1202 may be networked together usinga system such as described above, and in turn coupled to a sitecontroller 1210. Using the technology described above, information aboutthe lighting node platforms 104 may be reported to the site controller1210. In particular, lighting node platforms 104 may be connected to aseries of vehicle detection sensors 1203, 1204, 1205 positioned abovevarious parking spaces in the parking area 1202 (e.g., a parkinggarage). In an alternative embodiment, the lighting node platforms 104may contain image sensors that enable parked vehicle identification. Thesensors 1203, 1204, 1205 may operate using any well-known technologythat detects the presence or absence of a vehicle parked underneaththem. In this implementation each sensor 1203, 1204, 1205 includes anLED displaying whether the space is open, occupied, or reserved (e.g.,lit for open, black/unlit for occupied, etc.). For example, the greysensor 1203 may indicate a reserved space, the white sensor 1204 mayindicate an open space, and the black sensors 1205 may indicate occupiedspaces. This may enable a driver in the parking area 1202 to locate openspaces, used spaces, and reserved spaces. It may also allow the garageowner to know when spaces are available without having to visuallyinspect the entire garage.

The sensors 1203, 1204, 1205 may be coupled using wired or wirelesstechnology to the lighting node platform 104, such as described for thesystem above. The lighting node platforms 104 may communicate with thesite controller 1210. As described above, the site controller 1210 maybe a gateway platform device that includes a user interface. This sitecontroller 1210 may enable local site users to view data from thelighting node platforms 104 (or any gateway platforms) directly withouthaving to access data from the service platform 110. In an embodiment,the site controller 1210 may transmit the collected data over a localarea network (LAN) 1212 which may be connected to other devices 1214,such as devices 1214 that are configured to perform building managementservices or “BMS.” For example, the devices 1214 may be configured toexecute third-party services/applications that manage heating,ventilation, air conditioning, etc. systems within commercial buildings.In an embodiment, the devices 1214 may receive reports, sensor data, andother event information from the site controller 1210. The data from thesite controller 1210 may also be transmitted over a wide area network112 (e.g., WAN or the Internet) for processing by a service platform 110computing device, as described above with reference to FIG. 11.

The service platform 110 computing device may collect, organize,analyze, aggregate, and otherwise process the received data as describedabove. For example, the service platform computing device may predicttrends in parking area 1202 over time based on historical vehicledetection data received from the site controller 1210.

The LIAF system (as well as the data processed by the service platform110) may be accessed by one or more user devices 1216 using a parkingmanagement application 1220, such as via WAN connections with mobiledevices executing the application 1220. In an embodiment, theapplication 1220 may be accessed based on software as a service (SaaS)model (e.g., revenue may be generated based on access to theapplication/relevant application data). Using such an application 1220,user devices 1216 may access the data of the LIAF to determine parkingavailability (e.g., over time, currently, trends, etc.) and potentiallyreserve spaces. In an embodiment, the user devices 1216 may transmitfees to an application provider or alternatively the service platform110 or the owner of the parking area 1202 based on use of theapplication 1220.

FIG. 12B illustrates another embodiment application for the LIAF thatguides vehicles through a parking area, such as to available spacesand/or to exits. In particular, diagrams 1250 and 1275 show a vehicle1252 within the parking area 1202 (e.g., a parking garage), a lightingnode platform 104 that may be connected to or otherwise equipped withsensors for detecting at least motion and vehicles, a first array 1254of LEDs (or LED sensors) connected to the lighting node platform 104, afirst open parking space 1255, a second array 1256 of LEDs (or LEDsensors) connected to the lighting node platform 104, and a second openparking space 1257. As described above, the LEDs of the arrays 1254,1256 may be embedded within the floor, ceiling, and/or walls of theparking area (e.g., within the concrete/pavement of a parking structure)and also may be connected to the lighting node platform 104 via wired orwireless connections. In various embodiments, the LEDS of the arrays1254, 1256 may be the lighting node platforms themselves (e.g., thelight source within the lighting node platform devices may be configuredto turn on or off or change colors/intensity, blink, etc.)

In diagram 1250, the arrays 1254, 1256 are not lit up (i.e., the LEDsare black). In other words, LEDs of the arrays 1254, 1256 may be in aneutral state. Based on vehicle detection sensor data and motion sensordata (and motion direction data) related to the vehicle 1252, thelighting node platform 104 may relay data to the site controller (notshown) and thus the service platform (not shown) indicating that thevehicle 1252 has been detected in a particular place going in aparticular direction within the parking area. The service platform, oralternatively the site controller, may process that data to determinehow that the detected vehicle 1252 is moving in a particular way (e.g.,what direction). The service platform may correlate the detection of thevehicle and its direction of travel to data indicating the various openparking spaces 1255, 1257 within the parking area. Based on thisinformation, the service platform may determine the closest, mostconvenient, or otherwise best open space for the vehicle to park. Forexample, if the vehicle 1252 is determined to have already passed thesecond open parking space 1257, the first open parking space may be abetter destination as it would not require the vehicle 1252 to looparound or go in reverse.

Based on the processing of the received data from the lighting nodeplatform 104, the service platform may transmit commands, instructions,or software to the site controller and thus to the lighting nodeplatform 104 that indicates that the first array 1254 should beactivated or lit up in order to guide the moving vehicle to the firstopen parking space 1255. This is shown in diagram 1275, where the LEDsof the first array 1254 are white (or lit). In various embodiments, thecommands from the service platform (or site controller) may instruct thevarious LEDs to be lit in patterns, such as sequentially lightingsubsequent LEDs in a path to guide the vehicle 1252.

FIG. 13 is a diagram 1300 illustrating an embodiment lightingmaintenance application 1320. In such an application, lighting nodeplatforms 104 installed in various parking areas 1202, 1302 may benetworked together using a system such as described above, and in turncoupled to a site controller 1210. Using the technology described above,information about the lighting node platforms 104, such as powerconsumption, on-off activity, and sensor activity may be reported to thesite controller 1210. In addition, the site controller 1210 may collectperformance data (e.g., temperature of LEDs, temperature of drivers,forward current, etc.) and/or status data (e.g., light and sensor datastatus information). In an embodiment, the site controller 1210 maytransmit the collected data over a local area network (LAN) 1212 whichmay be connected to other devices 1214 (e.g., BMS devices 1214).

The data from the site controller 1210 may also be transmitted over awide area network 112 (e.g., the Internet) for processing by a serviceplatform 110 computing device, as described above with reference to FIG.11. For example, the service platform computing device may analyze datacollected from lighting node platforms 104 to determine the occurrenceof events, such as gunshots, trend information, such as high occupancyof parking spaces, and aggregated data (e.g., average vehicle motion forvarious time periods, etc.). In particular, the service platform 110 maybe configured to process the received data to detect conditions thatrequire proactive maintenance, such as malfunctioning or inefficientlights within the lighting infrastructure.

The LIAF system (as well as the data processed by the service platform110) may be accessed by one or more maintenance companies 1304 using alighting maintenance application 1320, to determine when service isrequired or when other attention is needed based on the processing ofdata by the service platform 110. Alternatively, the lightingmaintenance application 1320 may simply transmit the raw data from thelighting node platforms 104 to the maintenance companies 1304 forprocessing with external systems or algorithms. The maintenancecompanies 1304 may pay a fee to access the application 1320 and theapplication (or the associated application provider) may pay a fee toaccess and support the sensor information via the LIAF. In such anembodiment, the lighting infrastructure owner (i.e., the owner of theparking areas 1202, 1302) may expect a lower maintenance fees andincreased lighting infrastructure quality rather than a direct fee fromthe LIAF. In other words, instead of receive a portion of any revenuespaid by the maintenance companies 1304 for use of the application 1320,the lighting infrastructure owner may benefit from better maintainedfacilities. In an embodiment, the application 1320 may be accessed basedon a software as a service (SaaS) model.

In another embodiment, a LIAF may be used to implement a warehouseinventory application for the systems described above, with lightingnode platforms including a series of RFID tag sensors positionedthroughout a warehouse. These tag readers may detect RFID tags onvarious items in the warehouse. Using the network of lighting nodeplatforms as described herein, the tag readers may provide informationto a site controller and/or a service platform, thus enabling locationdata for items stored in the warehouse and monitoring of materialsmoving in and out of the warehouse. In an embodiment, the user devicesmay be configured to execute inventory software (or an inventoryapplication) that communicates with the service platform to access iteminformation. In an embodiment, the inventory software may enable usersto access inventory information directly from site controllers, gatewayplatforms, and/or lighting node platforms to enable efficient localsystem use. In another embodiment, the LIAF may be used to monitorshipping terminals. In this case, sensors connected to lighting nodeplatforms at shipping and destination terminals may collect data aboutcontainers moving in and out of the shipping and destination yards. Thatinformation may be transmitted via the lighting network (lighting nodeplatforms, gateway platforms, etc.) at those locations to sitecontrollers which then may transmit that information over the Internetto track containers from origin to destination.

While certain individual embodiments are described herein, including thespecific implementations detailed just above, it will be understood thata broad variety of implementations may be made within a lightinginfrastructure application framework, and that in various embodiments,functionality may be merged and performed by a single system. Therefore,a single embodiment may offer all of the functionality described hereinincluding specific functionality, while in alternate embodiments, avariety or mixture limited functionality may be offered with limitationsand mixtures of functionality limited by sensors devices, time,bandwidth, or any such system structure which may limit performance ofspecific embodiments as described herein.

FIG. 14 illustrates a diagram of a computing system 1400 suitable foruse in various embodiments. The computer system 1400 may be incorporatedas part of the previously described computerized devices, such as anylighting node platform (or lighting node platform device), gatewayplatform (or gateway platform device), sensor, controller, user device,and/or service platform (or service platform computer) as describedabove. Similarly, any component, element, or module of a LIAF systemaccording to various embodiments may include the computer system 1400,including various mobile devices or networked devices and servers.Further, the computing system 1400 may be configured to perform thevarious embodiment methods described above.

FIG. 14 is meant only to provide a generalized illustration of variouscomponents, any or all of which may be utilized as appropriate. FIG. 14,therefore, broadly illustrates how individual system elements may beimplemented in a relatively separated or relatively more integratedmanner.

The computer system 1400 may comprise hardware elements that may beelectrically coupled via a bus 1405 (or may otherwise be incommunication, as appropriate). The hardware elements may include one ormore processors 1410, including without limitation one or moregeneral-purpose processors and/or one or more special-purpose processors(such as digital signal processing chips, graphics accelerationprocessors, and/or the like); one or more input devices 1415, which mayinclude without limitation a mouse, a keyboard and/or the like; and oneor more output devices 1420, which may include without limitation adisplay device, a printer and/or the like.

The computer system 1400 may further include (and/or be in communicationwith) one or more non-transitory storage devices 1425, which maycomprise, without limitation, local and/or network accessible storage,and/or may include, without limitation, a disk drive, a drive array, anoptical storage device, a solid-state storage device such as a randomaccess memory (“RAM”) and/or a read-only memory (“ROM”), which may beprogrammable, flash-updateable and/or the like. Such storage devices maybe configured to implement any appropriate data stores, includingwithout limitation, various file systems, database structures, and/orthe like.

The computer system 1400 might also include a communications subsystem1430. which may include without limitation a modem, a network card(wireless or wired), an infrared communication device, a wirelesscommunication device and/or chipset (such as a Bluetooth™ device, an802.11 device, a Wi-Fi device, a WiMax device, cellular communicationfacilities, etc.), and/or similar communication interfaces. Thecommunications subsystem 1430 may permit data to be exchanged with anetwork (such as the network described below, to name one example),other computer systems, and/or any other devices described herein. Inmany embodiments, the computer system 1400 will further comprise anon-transitory working memory 1435, which may include a RAM or ROMdevice, as described above.

The computer system 1400 also may comprise software elements, shown asbeing currently located within the working memory 1435, including anoperating system 1440, device drivers, executable libraries, and/orother code, such as one or more application programs 1445, which maycomprise computer programs provided by various embodiments, and/or maybe designed to implement methods, and/or configure systems, provided byother embodiments, as described herein. Merely by way of example, one ormore procedures described with respect to the methods) discussed abovemight be implemented as code and/or instructions executable by acomputer (and/or a processor within a computer); in an aspect, then,such code and/or instructions may be used to configure and/or adapt ageneral purpose computer (or other device) to perform one or moreoperations in accordance with the described methods.

A set of these instructions and/or code might be stored on acomputer-readable storage medium, such as the storage device(s) 1425described above. In some cases, the storage medium might be incorporatedwithin a computer system, such as computer system 1400. In otherembodiments, the storage medium might be separate from a computer system(e.g., a removable medium, such as a compact disc), and/or provided inan installation package, such that the storage medium may be used toprogram, configure and/or adapt a general purpose computer with theinstructions/code stored thereon. These instructions might take the formof executable code, which is executable by the computer system 1400and/or might take the form of source and/or installable code, which,upon compilation and/or installation on the computer system 1400 (e.g.,using any of a variety of generally available compilers, installationprograms, compression/decompression utilities, etc.) then takes the formof executable code.

Substantial variations may be made in accordance with specificrequirements. For example, customized hardware might also be used,and/or particular elements might be implemented in hardware, software(including portable software, such as applets, etc.), or both. Moreover,hardware and/or software components that provide certain functionalitymay comprise a dedicated system (having specialized components) or maybe part of a more generic system. For example, an activity selectionsubsystem configured to provide some or all of the features describedherein relating to the selection of activities by sensors or controllersmay comprise hardware and/or software that is specialized (e.g., anapplication-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a software method, etc.)or generic (e.g., processor(s) 1410, application programs 1445, etc.)Further, connection to other computing devices such as networkinput/output devices may be employed.

Some embodiments may employ a computer system (such as the computersystem 1400) to perform methods in accordance with the disclosure. Forexample, some or all of the procedures of the described methods may beperformed by the computer system 1400 in response to processor 1410executing one or more sequences of one or more instructions (which mightbe incorporated into the operating system 1440 and/or other code, suchas an application program 1445) contained in the working memory 1435.Such instructions may be read into the working memory 1435 from anothercomputer-readable medium, such as one or more of the storage device(s)1425. Merely by way of example, execution of the sequences ofinstructions contained in the working memory 1435 might cause theprocessor(s) 1410 to perform one or more procedures of the methodsdescribed herein.

The terms “machine-readable medium” and “computer-readable medium,” asused herein, refer to any medium that participates in providing datathat causes a machine to operate in a specific fashion. In an embodimentimplemented using the computer system 1400, various computer-readablemedia might be involved in providing instructions/code to processor(s)1410 for execution and/or might be used to store and/or carry suchinstructions/code (e.g., as signals). In many implementations, acomputer-readable medium is a physical and/or tangible storage medium.Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limited to,non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatilemedia include, for example, optical and/or magnetic disks, such as thestorage device(s) 1425. Volatile media include, without limitation,dynamic memory, such as the working memory 1435. Transmission mediainclude, without limitation, coaxial cables, copper wire and fiberoptics, including the wires that comprise the bus 1405, as well as thevarious components of the communications subsystem 1430 (and/or themedia by which the communications subsystem 1430 provides communicationwith other devices). Hence, transmission media may also take the form ofwaves (including without limitation radio, acoustic and/or light waves,such as those generated during radio-wave and infrared datacommunications). Non-transitory storage media, on the other hand, maynot take such forms, and in various embodiments, any storage medium thatparticipates in providing data that causes a machine to operate in aspecific fashion may be implemented using non-transitory storage media.

Common forms of physical and/or tangible computer-readable mediainclude, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk,magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, any other opticalmedium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patternsof holes, a RAM, a PROM, EPROM, a Flash-EPROM, any other memory chip orcartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any other mediumfrom which a computer may read instructions and/or code.

Various forms of computer-readable media may be involved in carrying oneor more sequences of one or more instructions to the processor(s) 1410for execution. Merely by way of example, the instructions may initiallybe carried on a magnetic disk and/or optical disc of a remote computer.A remote computer might load the instructions into its dynamic memoryand send the instructions as signals over a transmission medium to bereceived and/or executed by the computer system 1400. These signals,which might be in the form of electromagnetic signals, acoustic signals,optical signals and/or the like, are all examples of carrier waves onwhich instructions may be encoded, in accordance with variousembodiments.

The communications subsystem 1430 (and/or components thereof) generallywill receive the signals, and the bus 1405 then might carry the signals(and/or the data, instructions, etc. carried by the signals) to theworking memory 1435, from which the processor(s) 1405 retrieves andexecutes the instructions. The instructions received by the workingmemory 1435 may optionally be stored on a non-transitory storage device1425 either before or after execution by the processor(s) 1410.

The methods, systems, and devices discussed above are examples. Variousembodiments may omit, substitute, or add various procedures orcomponents as appropriate. For instance, in alternative configurations,the methods described may be performed in an order different from thatdescribed, and/or various stages may be added, omitted, and/or combined.Also, features described with respect to certain embodiments may becombined in various other embodiments. Different aspects and elements ofthe embodiments may be combined in a similar manner. Also, technologyevolves and, thus, many of the elements are examples that do not limitthe scope of the disclosure to those specific examples. Further, wordssuch as “thereafter,” “then,” “next,” etc. are not intended to limit theorder of the steps; these words are simply used to guide the readerthrough the description of the methods. Further, any reference to claimelements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an” or“the” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.

Specific details are given in the description to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the embodiments. However, embodiments may be practicedwithout these specific details. For example, well-known circuits,processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques have been shownwithout unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments.This description provides example embodiments only, and is not intendedto limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention.Rather, the preceding description of the embodiments will provide thoseskilled in the art with an enabling description for implementingembodiments of the invention. Various changes may be made in thefunction and arrangement of elements without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

Also, some embodiments were described as processes depicted in a flowwith process arrows. Although each may describe the operations as asequential process, many of the operations may be performed in parallelor concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may berearranged. A process may have additional steps not included in thefigure. Furthermore, embodiments of the methods may be implemented byhardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardwaredescription languages, or any combination thereof. When implemented insoftware, firmware, middleware, or microcode, the program code or codesegments to perform the associated tasks may be stored in acomputer-readable medium such as a storage medium. Processors mayperform the associated tasks.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, andalgorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosedherein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, orcombinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability ofhardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules,circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms oftheir functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented ashardware or software depends upon the particular application and designconstraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans mayimplement the described functionality in varying ways for eachparticular application, but such implementation decisions should not beinterpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the presentinvention. The hardware used to implement the various illustrativelogics, logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connectionwith the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or performedwith a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmablegate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate ortransistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combinationthereof designed to perform the functions described herein. Ageneral-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but, in thealternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration. Alternatively, some steps or methods may be performed bycircuitry that is specific to a given function.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, the functions described may beimplemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof.If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on ortransmitted over as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. The operations of a method or algorithmdisclosed herein may be embodied in a processor-executable softwaremodule that may be stored on a non-transitory processor-readable orcomputer-readable storage medium. Non-transitory processor-readablestorage media may be any available media that may be accessed by acomputer or processor. By way of example, and not limitation,non-transitory computer-readable and processor-readable media maycomprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage,magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any othermedium that may be used to store desired program code in the form ofinstructions or data structures and that may be accessed by a computer.Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc,optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, and blu-raydisc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discsreproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above shouldalso be included within the scope of non-transitory computer-readableand processor-readable media. Additionally, the operations of a methodor algorithm may reside as one or any combination or set of codes and/orinstructions on a tangible, non-transitory machine readable mediumand/or computer-readable medium that may be incorporated into a computerprogram product.

Having described several embodiments, various modifications, alternativeconstructions, and equivalents may be used without departing from thespirit of the disclosure. For example, the above elements may merely bea component of a larger system, wherein other rules may take precedenceover or otherwise modify the application of the invention. Also, anumber of steps may be undertaken before, during, or after the aboveelements are considered. Accordingly, the above description does notlimit the scope of the disclosure.

The preceding description of the disclosed embodiments is provided toenable any person skilled in the art to make or use the presentinvention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles definedherein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is notintended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to beaccorded the widest scope consistent with the following claims and theprinciples and novel features disclosed herein. The present invention isrelated to the co-pending commonly assigned U.S. Non-ProvisionalApplication No. 61/699,968, filed Jun. 12, 2012, the entire contents ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference.

1. A method for a computing device to calculate savings informationassociated with a lighting infrastructure application frameworkcomprising: receiving, at the computing device, real time energy usagedata from a plurality of lighting node platform devices within thelighting infrastructure application framework; calculating energysavings information associated with management and a use of theplurality of lighting node platform devices; automatically calculatingcarbon credit information based on the calculated energy savingsinformation associated with the management and the use of the pluralityof lighting node platform devices; and transmitting a request for carboncredits based on the calculated carbon credit information.
 2. The methodof claim 1, further comprising trading carbon credits received inresponse to the request for additional revenue for at least one of thelighting infrastructure application framework operator and a lightinginfrastructure owner associated with the plurality of lighting nodeplatform devices.
 3. A computing device to calculate savings informationassociated with a lighting infrastructure application framework, thecomputing device comprising: processors; and a memory storinginstructions that, when executed by at least one processor among theprocessors, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising,at least: receiving, at the computing device, real time energy usagedata from a plurality of lighting node platform devices within thelighting infrastructure application framework; calculating energysavings information associated with management and a use of theplurality of lighting node platform devices; automatically calculatingcarbon credit information based on the calculated energy savingsinformation associated with the management and the use of the pluralityof lighting node platform devices; and transmitting a request for carboncredits based on the calculated carbon credit information.
 4. Anon-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereonprocessor-executable software instructions configured to cause aprocessor to perform operations for calculating savings informationassociated with a lighting infrastructure application framework, theoperations comprising: receiving real time energy usage data from aplurality of lighting node platform devices within the lightinginfrastructure application framework; calculating energy savingsinformation associated with management and a use of the plurality oflighting node platform devices; automatically calculating carbon creditinformation based on the calculated energy savings informationassociated with the management and the use of the plurality of lightingnode platform devices; and transmitting a request for carbon creditsbased on the calculated carbon credit information.